ErynLasgalen: Perhaps, just perhaps, you will find a little more elfling-fluff in this chapter if you read past the nasty stuff. Mind you: I make no promises!
Karri: Yes, I think there has been enough proof of their love even for such an emotionally buffeted elfling as Anomen.
Mystwing: Yes, there is something to be said for the level-headedness of a balrog-slayer, someone who manages to keep his own head while all about them are losing theirs.
Joee: You are right, of course. Anomen does not become comfortable with addressing Elrond as 'Ada' until much later. He does it here because he is trying to work on Elrond's emotions. To explain matters, I should have included some sentence such as this: "Elrond was touched that Anomen had called him 'Papa', but he would have been much less moved if he had realized hat Anomen was consciously trying to play upon his emotions."
Dragonfly: You don't think nearly a dozen half-goblins are enough to take down two Elves and a wizard? Well, let's see if you're right.
Beta Reader: Farflung, who once again caught me confusing Elrond with Erestor. Ai! I will never be safe from the 'E' problem! There should be a circle in Dante's hell for the person who invented alliteration, a place where, yes, all the torments begin with the same letter. Hmm. Torment. Torture. Terrify. Terrorize. Traumatize. Yessss, Precioussss, we likes with these wordses.
Note regarding the canon: There is nothing in Tolkien to suggest that Glorfindel was a legendary lover. On the other hand, there is nothing to say that he was not. As we all know, fanfiction abhors a vacuum, so I've taken the liberty of filling in the gap!
While Elrond, Gandalf, and Glorfindel had been tending to Anomen, Saruman's other servants had at length joined forces and come upon the tracks both of the elfling and of the half-goblin who pursued him.
"Looks like the rat wants ter take all the credit for snagging the pointy-ear," snarled one of them. "Can't have that, now, can we!?"
The others growled their assent, and the band loped off in quest of their prey. They followed Anomen and his pursuer up to the top of the cliff, and then they followed Anomen and his rescuers down into the valley. Unfortunately, so relieved were Elrond, Glorfindel, and Gandalf at having recovered Anomen that they were unusually careless and gave no thought to the possibility that additional foes might be near. Perhaps the nearness of Isengard was in part responsible for their complacency. It may never have occurred to them that so many foes would have been permitted so close to Saruman's stronghold. They may have assumed that the half-goblin was nothing more than a stray or a renegade rather than a harbinger of a larger force.
Be that as it may, they were largely unprepared for the onslaught of their enemies. Glorfindel and Elrond had laid their weapons aside, and Gandalf his staff. As for Anomen, he drew his little knife, but it was knocked from his hand by Elrond, who seized him and threw him bodily into the tree under which they had been sitting. As there had been no branches within Anomen's reach, he would not otherwise have been able to reach safety.
With Anomen literally above the fray, the three elders turned their attention to the foes who threatened to overrun them. Glorfindel dove for his sword and succeeded in reaching it before the charging half-goblins were upon them. Elrond had no time to lay hands upon his bow and quiver, but he drew his own knife, a more substantial one than Anomen's. As for Gandalf, he seized a brand from the fire and waved it threateningly at the half-goblin who was advancing upon him. That creature laughed mockingly, but his laughs turned to shrieks when Gandalf drove past his guard and thrust the flaming stick into his face. His shrieks were quickly silenced, however, for Gandalf wrested away the sword of his blinded foe and used it to slash his throat.
Elrond had meanwhile similarly managed to equip himself with a sword. More specifically, he had cut one from the hand of one of his assailants, thus 'disarming' his enemy, so to speak. The scimitar he had thus captured was more unwieldy than an elven blade, but he used it to good effect nonetheless.
Once armed, the trio quickly formed the traditional elven defensive circle, and fighting back to back the two Elves and the wizard proved invincible. They had faced nearly a dozen half-goblins at the outset, but they had no difficulty in 'cutting their opponents down to size'. In fact, by the end of the skirmish, there were quite a few 'half' goblins scattered about in more than one sense of the word.
As soon as their last foe had been dealt with, the three surrounded the tree and gazed up into it anxiously. To their relief, they saw that for once Anomen had stayed put, but their relief turned to concern when they realized that he had done so because he had been in too much pain to have done otherwise. In his zeal for the elfling's safety, Elrond had thrown him so hard across a tree limb that Anomen had very likely broken at least one rib. He lay dangling limply over the tree branch, pale and breathless. Alarmed, Elrond sprang into the tree and carefully lifted Anomen down to Glorfindel and Gandalf, who laid him down gently by the campfire. Once he was lying stretched upon the ground, with his head resting upon Glorfindel's pack, he was able to breathe easier, even if he still did gasp and wheeze periodically, and his color improved. Still, Elrond knew that the long journey back to Rivendell would have to be postponed.
"We must build a litter and convey him at once to Isengard," declared Elrond. "He will need to rest for several days."
"Aye," agreed Glorfindel, "and even had he no need to rest, we should go there until I have had an opportunity to scout this region to determine the full extent of the danger that we will face on our return journey. It may be necessary to return through Dunland rather than retrace our steps through the Misty Mountains."
Anomen had no voice with which to protest a removal to Orthanc, and even if he had, he would have been ignored. The adults were in accord. They wanted to bring Anomen safe within the Ring of Isengard, where he would be both protected from foes and sheltered from the elements.
Glorfindel stood guard by Anomen while Gandalf and Elrond gathered vines and branches for a litter and set about constructing it. Gandalf proved to have a hitherto unheralded talent for tying knots, and before too long a serviceable stretcher was ready for the injured elfling. With the task of bearing Anomen rotating among three stretcher-bearers, they made good speed toward Isengard.
At about this time, an impatient Saruman had drawn the cover from the Palantír in order to check on the progress of the half-goblins who were searching for Anomen. To his shock, he saw that the elfling was indeed being brought to Isengard, but by two Elves and a wizard. Hastily he summoned a servant.
"Two Elves, a wizard, and an elfling will soon arrive at Isengard. All my Man-servants must come on duty at once, regardless of whether it is their watch, and all the half-goblins are to retire to the caverns and remain there until these strangers have departed. Likewise, pen and muzzle the wargs. I do not want any snarling and howling heard within the Ring of Isengard!"
The servant scuttled off to relay his orders. He was a half-goblin himself, so he was pleased that he would have nothing to do but loll about in the caverns for several days. Saruman's Man-servants were not so happy, but, for all their grumbling, they hurried to fulfill their master's commands. They knew all too well what happened to those who failed to obey him or to do so promptly. The wargs had dined quite well at the expense of Men who had incurred the wizard's displeasure, and it was rumored that the half-goblins were not above making a meal of Men, near kin though they were.
By the time Anomen and his rescuers arrived at Isengard, all posts were manned by, well, they were manned by Men. They were not the most prepossessing specimens of Men, of course, but what mattered was that the visitors would spy no servants who reminded them of the half-goblins who had attacked them.
Saruman had come down to the base of Orthanc to greet his visitors, and he made a great show of concern over Anomen.
"Is this not the little elfling who visited me as he journeyed toward Imladris? Ah, I feared he might come to harm, and I desired him to remain at Orthanc. Would that he had!"
Actually, some of his concern was genuine. Anomen as a tool would be the less useful if he were 'damaged'. Saruman also viewed Anomen as rightfully 'his' and was resentful of the fact that he was being delivered to him in less than perfect condition.
Glorfindel found himself bridling at Saruman's words, for he felt that the wizard implied that Elrond had failed in his duty. Woe to anyone, wizard or no, who disparaged the Lord of Imladris in the hearing of Glorfindel the balrog-slayer!
After escorting the visitors into Orthanc, Saruman gave orders that chambers be prepared for each of his guests, but, to his dismay, Elrond and Gandalf insisted on being housed with Anomen. Although Saruman assured them that the elfling would be well looked after, they declined his every offer of separate rooms.
"We should not like to be parted from him so soon after recovering him," Elrond told Saruman.
"But you and Mithrandir both look very weary. Should you not rest?"
"We will take turns resting alongside him," replied Elrond. "Would you be so kind as to order that a pallet be placed on the floor by his bed?"
Saruman could do nothing but force himself to smile and command that Elrond and Gandalf be accommodated as they wished. Only Glorfindel would not share their quarters, and that merely because he would be departing and returning at odd hours on scouting missions and did not wish his comings and goings to disturb Anomen.
For a fortnight Anomen rested and recovered his strength, and all this time Gandalf and Elrond, by remaining at his side, were unwittingly protecting the elfling from the machinations of Saruman. How the Lord of Isengard longed for an opportunity to get Anomen alone so that he could work upon him with his honeyed but poisonous voice! The wizard had to console himself with the belief that he would be able to contrive some way of keeping Anomen at Orthanc, which would then afford him with ample opportunity to seduce the youngling. He had been able to ascertain that, yes, Anomen had run away from Rivendell, and he was sure that he could put this information to good use when the time drew near for Elrond and the others to depart.
At length Elrond deemed that Anomen was well enough to arise and spend some time each day exercising his muscles in order to begin recovering his stamina. Saruman had reluctantly agreed to furnish them with horses, and he knew that he had to act quickly now, for they were likely to depart the sooner since Anomen would not need to make the return to Imladris on foot. Anomen and his guardians were now joining Saruman for meals, and one night Saruman commenced his campaign, addressing the elfling in a gentle voice, his face full of concern.
"I am indeed sorry, Anomen, that living in Imladris did not suit you. You must have been dreadfully unhappy to run off into the wild. It is truly a pity that it should have come to that. But do not fear, young one: measures shall be taken for your comfort and happiness. Imladris was never the only refuge open to you. You have come now to Isengard, where you have discovered that you are very welcome—yes, very welcome, indeed!"
Elrond and Glorfindel and Gandalf all opened their mouths to protest, but Anomen was quicker.
"But I want to go back to Rivendell!" exclaimed Anomen.
"You have just fled from Imladris," said Saruman smoothly. "You must have had a reason for doing so."
"Because I wanted to stay there!"
"Anomen, that is hardly logical," said Saruman.
"Actually," Elrond interjected, "that is very logical. For an elfling," he hastily added at the look of disbelief that crossed Saruman's face.
"Elrond makes a very interesting point," said Gandalf, "and thereby demonstrates why Anomen had better go back to Rivendell. Elrond understands the peculiar logic of an elfling because he has been raising three of his own. My Lord Saruman, you are wise, but you must concede that you are not familiar with the ways of the young."
Saruman wanted to sneer that Elrond would no doubt understand the thinking of an elfling because he was as foolish as one. He of course had to deny himself that pleasure.
"Are you suggesting, Mithrandir," he said icily, "that I would be incapable of divining the thought processes of an elfling?"
"Not at all," replied Gandalf mildly. "But it is not so much a matter of 'divining' those processes as of being in sympathy with the youngling who is indulging in those thoughts."
"Hah!" thought Glorfindel. "Mithrandir has him there. Saruman could no more sympathize with an elfling than a snake could sympathize with the nestling he is about to swallow."
"Indeed," Gandalf continued, unaware of the full extent of Saruman's anger, "it might even be more accurate to say that empathy is required, and, as you have never been an elfling, you may have difficulty there."
"Better and better," gloated Glorfindel.
"I suppose you think that you have this empathy?" said Saruman, his face a stony mask.
"I have made no such claim," replied Gandalf. "Moreover, Anomen will not be dwelling with me, but with Elrond." Privately, however, he was thinking that, yes, he did have that empathy, although he knew not how he came by it. Elrond and Glorfindel were of the same opinion. However, as Gandalf had no home to offer Anomen, there was no point in arguing the matter. Saruman, though, was not ready to let the matter drop.
"You do not make that claim in speech, yet you seem to think yourself entitled to have a hand in this elfling's upbringing."
"As he dwells at Rivendell, and I frequent that place, it is inevitable that I should have somewhat to do with his upbringing. Moreover," continued Gandalf, who was now nettled by Saruman's words, "perhaps in some ways I am more suited to deal with an elfling than such a grand wizard as you be. We have different gifts, you and I."
"Thank heavens for that!" thought Saruman.
At this moment, one of Saruman's servants came to the door and waited to be recognized. At last Saruman noticed him and waved him forward.
"My Lord, the Lady Galadriel of Lothlórien is without and requests an audience with you."
Saruman was startled, as were they all.
"The Lady Galadriel!"
"Yes, my Lord."
"I wasn't expecting—how came she—um, well, admit her, you fool!"
"This is too delightful for words," Glorfindel exulted to himself. "The eloquence of Saruman reduced to dithering!" The balrog-slayer had thought his immortal life would be far too short to afford him the opportunity to witness Saruman discomfited. It seems he had been mistaken.
As for Saruman, he was mightily distressed. He had long known that some force prevented him using his Palantír to see past the borders of any of the elven realms. Now it had also proved possible for an Elf, at least a powerful one, to cloak his or her movements even outside the kingdoms of the Fair Folk. For he had looked in the Seeing Stone several times over the past two weeks and had never perceived the approach of the Lady of Lórien. Her presence, he knew, would greatly complicate matters. Saruman was well aware that Galadriel mistrusted him, preferring instead to consult Mithrandir in all matters.
Something else about the arrival of Galadriel bothered Saruman greatly. Elrond, Mithrandir, Glorfindel, and now Galadriel. For all intents and purposes, Saruman had on his hands a full blown Council. He suspected at once that Galadriel, like the others, was here on account of Anomen. But who was this elfling that so many of the Great should trouble themselves over him? He had to be of some importance. Perhaps he was descended from an Elf of great eminence. Perhaps he had unusual abilities. Whatever the reason, Saruman was more eager than ever to possess him, even though the presence of Galadriel made that goal more difficult to achieve. Apparently the elfling must be worth the trouble.
The Lady of Lothlórien glided into the room, and all arose to respectfully bid her welcome. Saruman prayed that she would take a seat, and, once she had done so, the others resumed their own seats, although Anomen sat on the edge of his. Galadriel addressed him first.
"Anomen, I am glad to see you looking well. You have given us a great fright. We all shall be happy when you are once again safe in Elrond's Hall, and I hope you are not so hasty as to run off in the future. Go to Elrond when you are distressed, and do not hide yourself in a tree, however friendly he may be!"
Saruman spoke before the elfling had a chance to reply.
"My Lady, it is not at all certain that Anomen will return to Imladris. Before your arrival, we had been considering whether the young one ought to remain safely in Orthanc."
Anomen had listened quietly as the adults had discussed his future, but now he could bear it no longer.
"I'll run away from here," cried Anomen. "I'll run away! You know I will."
"That is enough," said Elrond sternly, who, although he had no intention of handing Anomen over to Saruman, did not wish him to be impertinent. "It is not for you to decide where you will live, as you are not of age and will not be so for centuries. You will stay where you are put."
"I won't," declared Anomen fiercely. "You can't make me."
Saruman was thinking to himself that he could contrive to make Anomen stay put, but of course he did not utter that thought aloud. Instead, he spoke with great gentleness.
"Elrond," he chided, "you must not threaten the little fellow. That is no way to win his affection. I should not treat him so."
Unbeknownst to Saruman, Glorfindel was glaring at him. "The very idea," he thought indignantly, "of that wretched wizard telling us how to win Anomen's affection!"
Elrond was thinking along similar lines, but he did not let his thoughts show on his face.
"Glorfindel," Galadriel now suggested, "why don't you take Anomen for a walk about the Ring of Isengard."
Anomen became thoroughly alarmed.
"You want me out of the way," he cried, "so you can dispose of me as you wish!"
Galadriel did him the courtesy of speaking honestly.
"I want you out of the way," she said, "so that I can speak frankly to your elders."
She took his chin in her hand and looked into his blue eyes with her own piercing ones.
"I did not constrain you to remain in Lothlórien," she said softly so that only he could hear. "I would not then see you trammeled like a wild bird in a cage. Will you not trust me now?"
Reassured, Anomen permitted himself to be led away by Glorfindel. That Elf, however, was very sorry to depart the chamber, for he suspected that the Lord of Isengard was about to receive his comeuppance at the hands of Galadriel, and he would have loved to have stayed for it.
Once Anomen was gone, Galadriel began innocently enough.
"My Lord Saruman, your concern for the elfling is commendable, but I fear that your great responsibilities would prevent you from lavishing upon him the attention that he is in such great need of."
"Apparently," Saruman replied acerbically, "the same could be said of the Lord Elrond. I have never lost an elfling!"
"Because you have never had one to lose," snapped Elrond, his patience worn thin.
"There is no need to quarrel," interjected Galadriel, "as we all have the elfling's interests at heart. Is that not the case, Lord Saruman?"
"Of course," he said lamely, suspecting that he was about to be led into a trap.
"Now, I am not only a parent but a grandparent. In this room, none but I can make that claim, is that not so?"
All had to concede the truth of this assertion. Had Glorfindel been in the room, they would not have been quite so certain, for the balrog-slayer's amatory prowess was legendary. However, as he was not in the room to give an account of himself, they did not have to trouble themselves over the question. Thus Galadriel was able to proceed.
"Since I am both a parent and a grandparent, I have more experience with younglings than anyone here. Is that not also true?"
None could gainsay her.
"Younglings," she began to itemize, "need shelter, which is available both in Isengard and Imladris. They need nourishing food, of which there is an abundance in both places. They need books, and there is no lack of those in either Orthanc or the Hall. They need supervision, and there are adults on hand in both Isengard and Imladris to provide it."
Saruman began to wonder if he had misjudged the Lady of Lórien. So far she had said nothing to suggest that Orthanc would not be as appropriate a place to raise an elfling as Rivendell. Soon, however, he had reason to dislike her as much as ever.
"They need affection," Galadriel continued, "a love freely given without ulterior motives or hope of return."
It escaped the notice of no one that she did not say whether or not she felt such love was to found in both Orthanc and Imladris.
"Finally," she said, "younglings need the company of other younglings. An elfling cannot be raised in isolation."
The trap had been sprung, crushing within its teeth Saruman's hopes for pinioning Anomen within the walls of Orthanc. All the visitors knew—or thought they did!—that no younglings dwelt at Isengard. Saruman knew otherwise, but he could not very well parade a string of infant half-goblins before his guests. Nor was he inclined to display the first primitive Uruk-hai that had recently hatched. These creatures would hardly be viewed as appropriate playmates for an elfling such as Anomen.
Having carried the field, Galadriel smiled sweetly at all and sundry.
"I hope my grandmotherly wisdom has served to solve the conundrum of where Anomen ought to dwell."
Elrond beamed.
"My Lady, thank you for sharing your great knowledge of younglings," he said cheerfully.
"Far be it from me," said Saruman stiffly, "to question your wisdom in a matter such as this."
As for Gandalf, he sent a wink her way when Saruman was not looking.
A month later, Anomen, Gandalf, Elrond, and Glorfindel rode through the gates of Rivendell, Galadriel having parted from them a fortnight earlier in order to cross back to Lothlórien. Elladan raced out of the Hall to greet them. Elrohir hung back, for he feared that Anomen had not forgiven him for the unkind words he had spoken. Anomen, however, inquired after him eagerly. He had not forgotten the vision he had had of Elrohir's face in the pool of rainwater. Soon all three elflings were laughing and racing on the greensward.
The elders left the elflings at play for the remainder of the day, but that night, at the evening meal, Elrond gently but firmly told Anomen that the morrow would be no holiday.
"Erestor tells me that, whilst you have been out roaming the wild, Elrohir and Elladan have made steady progress in their studies."
"I said 'reasonably steady progress'," Erestor interjected, with a sharp look at Elrohir.
Elrond smiled and continued.
"I do not expect you to catch up with them in a day, but catch up you will."
"Yes, Lord Elrond," Anomen said meekly. Anxiously he awaited Elrond's further words. What was it to be this time? Scouring all the cauldrons in the kitchen? Oiling the leather of every scabbard in the armory? But Elrond remained silent.
Erestor, however, had somewhat to say.
"I hope you know," this worthy tutor said severely, "that if you were a man-child and lived amongst Men, then your foster-father would demonstrate his relief at your escape from danger by giving you a severe beating."
"Yes, Lord Erestor," replied Anomen humbly.
"Of course," added Erestor, his manner softening, "I have always thought that custom to be one of the more peculiar of the mannish traditions—although, mind you, all of their customs are quite strange. In any event, I much prefer the elven manner of showing joy at the return of a lost youngling."
With that, to the astonishment of all, the tutor took Anomen's face between his hands and kissed him upon the forehead. Then he released him and surveyed him with satisfaction.
"There now," he said triumphantly, "I hope that you have learned your lesson."
"Yes," Anomen said thoughtfully. "Yes, I believe I have."
While they had been talking, a beaming Head Cook had chosen that moment to slip onto Anomen's plate a dish of custard heaped with cream. As an indulgent Elrond conveniently looked the other way, a very relieved and grateful elfling turned his attention to this treat, demolishing it in such a fashion as would have done a Troll proud. Even Erestor decided to overlook this lapse in manners, so glad were they all to have Anomen back safe amongst them. Glorfindel cleared his throat.
"He's still much too thin. Cook, see that you give him custard more often!"
At that, Elrond did raise his eyebrows, but Gandalf quickly sent a wink his way, and the elf-lord allowed those remarkable features to reassume their usual position above his eyes. Gandalf idly thought for a minute how interesting it would be to deprive Elrond of his eyebrows for a time in order to see how he made out, but he quickly abandoned the idea.
"No doubt," he thought to himself, "Elrohir and Elladan will accomplish the feat someday; no need for me to have a hand in it!"
Thus, blissfully unaware of the peril in which his facial hair had stood, the Lord of Imladris happily surveyed his reunited family. Would that such bliss had been destined to endure always! But such is never the case, no, not even in the life of an immortal Elf.