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Holding Destiny
FLASHBACK
Five days earlier
Chapter 1
"Come now Erestor, surely you're not above a little challenge."
Finally tearing his gaze away from his reports, the dark elf locked gazes with Glorfindel, "I am not above it I just see no point of it. I have work that must be done."
"I see," Glorfindel said, "you've not raised a sword in so long you're afraid to do so even against a friend in a sparring ring?"
Erestor sighed, "I know I can still lift my sword. In case you're forgotten I marched into battle right along with you only I had the sense to run away from the Balrog instead of screaming at it."
"Ha, ha, you're so funny." The blond warrior replied before finally leaving the advisor to his work.
Elrond laughed under his breath, "No one knows how to annoy him better then you. How you two remain the closest of friends is a fact that will never cease to elude me."
A small smile appeared on the serious elf's face, "It is true what they say about opposites, even in appearance, yet his company is highly prized to me."
Elrond's office remained quiet for a while as the two elves worked before the silence was broken once more.
"My Lord?"
"Yes?" Elrond asked.
"A rider is approaching."
The two elves headed for the front courtyard to see whom it was that was coming and were happy to see a friend clearing the horizon.
The flash of shining golden hair gave away the visitor's identity. The son of Thranduil was a frequent guest in Imladris and always welcome, although sometimes his adventures with Elrond's sons could leave some interesting marks on his normally peaceful house.
"Legolas!" Elrond exclaimed as Legolas dismounted. "You are most welcome here, but what brings you to my door? Not another fight with your father?"
"No, no, my Lord, I simply longed for the open country and a visit with you and your sons."
Elrond smiled, "Of course, they will be happy to see you. Come, Erestor will show you to your room."
"Please, come with me, Prince Legolas." Erestor stated with only respect in his voice.
Laughing, the Prince shook his head, "You've known me all my life and taught me many lessons, when will you not address me so formal?"
The Counselor did not reply but simply peered over his shoulder to ensure that the blond was following him down the hallway.
It was a short time later that Erestor returned to the office to find Glorfindel having once more returned this time to report to Elrond.
"I've adjusted the schedules around so that not one group is always working the night shift and so on. It helps morale to know one is not always going to have to be up all night and sleep while the sun is shining."
"Good, any new training classes?"
The captain shook his head, "Not right now, I've been adjusting the perimeters and needed to spend more time integrating the new boundaries into our watch. Once that is completed I will begin training the younger warriors on double knives so they can learn more techniques one cannot perform with a sword."
Elrond nodded, "Thank you, Glorfindel."
He stood and nodded before turning once more to Erestor, "I still have not forgotten that we still need to meet for a duel."
"Nor have I, my friend." Erestor smirked at his friend. "You're always there to keep me from getting rusty and to make sure my muscles are always kept sore from fighting."
"What other job could I possibly do better?" Glorfindel laughed.
The Lord sat still and acknowledged the pair in the room were not just advisors to him but dear friends. "Goodnight. I shall retire and see you both in the morning."
The dark elf stood as well, "Pleasant dreams, my Lord." Glorfindel simply winked at him and gave a smile.
Tossing in his bed, Elrond found troubling images coming to him in his reverie. Pictures of Imladris, his home, coming under attack, but he could never see whom it was that was bringing such destruction to his lands. Desperately, he tried to look at them, tried to fight them, but never did a target present itself to him.
He looked to his left and saw his dear friend Glorfindel huddled down over something but he could not see what. However his hearing was working perfectly and the warrior's words were ringing in his ears.
"You cannot die here like this, please, what will do I without you near me to tease and torture?"
Finally, he found himself upset and collapsing into his chair at the dining table. He heard a strange rustling and was amazed to see Erestor standing before him wearing a long black robe that covered all of his body. The neck of the garment was cut short and its deep color made Erestor look paler than he had even seen him.
"My Lord." Came a hollow voice almost echoing throughout the room.
Elrond noticed that Erestor looked somehow different but he couldn't place what had changed.
"Do not trust them, My Lord. Do not allow them near."
Finding he could make no response, Elrond only gazed on his friend as Erestor stood near the table and undid the clasp of his robe. It fell away showing blood covering his chest from a giant slash, there was no way Erestor could still be alive with such a wound yet the dark eyes continued to bore into his Lord's very core.
"You must not let them do this!"
He wanted to run from seeing his friend this way but could not rise.
"Ada!" Came a painful cry.
"Ada!" This time it seemed less like an echo but further away.
"Ada, wake up." Erestor's cold voice transformed into the voice of his son and Elrond quickly opened his eyes.
Elrohir's concerned look met his gaze, "Are you okay, Ada? You were mumbling into your sleep and it took many times of my calling your name for you to wake. What is wrong?"
"I'm not sure," Elrond said, "just a very odd dream."
"You've had dreams before." His son said.
Elrond nodded, "That is true, but this one was," he paused, "quite disturbing." Once more he tried to collect himself and shake the images from his dream, "It is okay, Elrohir. I will get up now and be down in a moment."
Rising from the side of the bed, Elrohir nodded and left the room giving his father a moment to clear his head. He had experienced such unusual dreams in the past and had learned never to take their meaning at face value, but at the same time something about this one seemed different than all the others. More real perhaps, or more upsetting given how his friend had been so mutilated and in such pain. He would have to meditate and think on this later in the day.
Meanwhile, the Elladan and Legolas were having their own difficulties. In the realm of Imladris, Elrond is Lord, but it is a little known fact that the head of the kitchens often wields more power than he ever could even with the aid of a ring of power.
Her name was Arien and she was always the keeper of the best sweets in the land. The morning's light had just cleared the horizon and there was nothing more that the pair wanted than some of those treats. Even though they were full grown elves they still had the will of children sometimes and Arien still treated them as such when they wanted to ignore their proper breakfast for something altogether unhealthy.
"Come now, Legolas, you're our guest and can also try to charm her with your stunning looks."
"Elladan, she's known me all my life, what makes you think she'll give me anything?" Legolas asked.
The Peredhil shook his head, "Well, I know she would never give me anything so you're our best hope."
"Fine" Legolas said with a little harshness in his voice and headed towards the kitchens
"Unfortunately, the harvest in the east has been greatly smaller then in past years and we may have to move some provisions to them in the meantime. Don't you agree, My Lord?"
The words fell on deaf ears as Elrond gazed at Erestor, unable to get the vision of his advisor, and dearest friend, calling to him seemingly from beyond death. The image of the maimed body lingered in his mind like a mist that refused even the brightest sunlight to burn it away.
Realizing that dark eyes were looking at him in expectation of an answer, Elrond snapped out of his reverie.
"Of course, Erestor, you are correct. We shall begin doing so as you as you see fit."
Erestor didn't look away, though and appeared even more concerned at his Lord's distraction. "Are you okay? You seem a bit preoccupied."
"I am fine, I merely had some……….disturbing dreams last night and they are haunting me."
"I understand," Erestor replied. "perhaps you would prefer to go over the reports at a later time?"
A shake of the head, "No, I cannot let a simple dream stop Imladris in her tracks. Please continue, Erestor."
"Yes, My Lord."
They were suddenly distracted by a rumbling coming from the hallway and quickly Elrond recognized the voice as the young sun of Thranduil.
"Legolas? Is that you?"
More grumbling came and a form appeared in the doorway causing an eyebrow to be raised by Elrond and restrained laughter from Erestor.
"Ah, you were trying to get something you shouldn't from Arien I see."
"Yes, Lord Elrond." The Prince then turned away, dripping lukewarm soup from head to toe down the hallway to his rooms. Seconds later his sons were following murmuring about being lucky they were not the ones sent into the kitchen to "charm" Arien.
The matters between Lord and Advisor were not too exciting but the normal running of a great household and a great land upon which many both relied upon and dedicated their lives at the exact same time. Topics ranged from the replacement of part of a retaining wall that had been weakened by weeds running through it to the upcoming festivals and their details. They spoke for a great while before being interrupted once more by a lone elf from the boarder patrols.
"My Lord Elrond, we have spied a group of travelers heading towards Imladris. They appear to be a contingent of men from their size and their walk. What would you recommend we do?"
Elrond throat went dry at this report and words shouted into his head once more…..
"Do not let them near!"
Those words from his dream, how could he rely upon words from a dream?
"Identify them." Came the reply once he felt his voice had returned to him.
Erestor looked to his Lord and wondered why this news bothered him so much for travelers always came through the Last Homely House, elven and otherwise, and all were welcome to find a safe place to rest and shelter during their journeys.
However, from the haunted look on Elrond's face he decided not to press the matter and stayed quiet and allowed the breeze in the windows to make the only noise in the room.
TBC