Elfique: I realize it sounds odd that elves would be smoking, especially if it was a hobbit tradition, yet many others in Middle Earth smoked, Gandalf and the dwarves for example. Plus if I recall correctly Elrond gave Bilbo one of his own pipes as a gift, this is merely a beginning of a tradition that many in Middle-earth would soon develop.
Redha: thank you once again for the lovely review you sent to my email, i hope you enjoy this new chapter, its long but i think it works.
Well all, its wounding down to the end, but to not worry, there are plenty of stories to tell, I must warn you I might get a bit artsy near the end, but that is only to convey the feeling of it. Enjoy and review, thanks
Life seemingly returned to normal in the land of Lorinand, bakers and weavers made their bread and blankets, and the defenses of the land grew stronger every day that passed; none spoke of the change in the world, few would dare utter what they believed to have happened, none wished to ascertain that the road West had now been closed. Yet soon news would come from Imladris and the lands of the south; men from the West aboard large ship settled on the land, felling trees and cutting stone. Men with gray eyes and dark visages began to build mighty kingdoms in the facades of mountains; and despite their knowledge of elvish custom and tongue none were allowed in the confines of Lorinand nor Greenwood, for many among the silvan folk disliked these stranger's usage of the woods they held so sacred. Though Celeborn and Galadriel would venture forth into what was increasingly called "man's world"; many of their followers, even among the Noldor would remain in Lorinand, not wishing to become apart of the world without their borders.
Thus did Celebrin and Alphindil remain in the confines of Lorinand even while their Lords were away, for they remained as vassals of them, ruling in their place and over seeing their plans. And it was in this manner that a friendship grew between the two companions and the children of Celeborn, Amroth and Celebrian, though one would choose the Noldo and the other Teleri more to their liking. The four of them would speak into the dawning hours, of the changing world and how different it had become, for few would speak of such things. One night before the midsummer's eve, Alphindil stood upon a talan, watching the fields before him, where his companion's steed Mithgaer, ran freely upon the plain in the outskirts of the border, singing a soft tune his voice was joined by another, to his surprise he turned to see a maiden clad in silver hair smiling at him she said,
"Such a friend you are, to watch over a horse that is not your own."
"Mithgaer, is my companion as well...I have been his master as much as Celebrin."
"Regardless of that, I find it odd you are not present for your own mare's labor..."
"Celebrin has always been the master Horseman, I...I am just his helper."
"Too often you sell yourself short Alphindil, you are capable of greater..."
"Greater is not my fate, I am content to live this life I have lived, too often the greater one is or has come to be, the greater they can fall from that grace."
"Come let us not speak of such things, they weigh on the heart as lead on a boat...Alphindil, have you ever loved someone? Some one greater than you could ever expect?"
"Why does this question appear? You are too young to think of love in any matter other than familial..."
He jests at this seemingly innocent question, as was his wont to do, laugh at the seemingly unimportant, yet the she-elf beside him did not respond to this jest in like manner, only pressing the matter further,
"I am not so young to be called child...Do you...do you find me fair, not as sister or as friend, but as a maiden?"
"You know the answer to that Celebrian...Yes, I do find you fair, now what burdens your mind, to think of love at times as these? Is there one you...love?"
"...No...well I am not sure of this is proper to speak of with you..."
"He does find you fair Celebrian, be patient, the time will come for him to tell you...now sit the wind is fair this night."
The two sat on the talan, watching the racing steed, pacing the floor of the field until the quiet night was broken by the cry of a new born colt, and the whine of his father's joy in the fields before the forests of Lorinand. The new horse was as white as his sires, yet his flowing mane was the hue of bright silver caught in the moonlight that shimmers on the very brink of white, Thingalad was to be his name for though he was not gray, his eyes shone out in gray hue and in his eyes one saw again the beauty of the twilit world.
Thus did years pass though not many since the world was changed, and fires burned the woods of old in Eriador and forces of Angband penetrated the defenses of the newly founded mortal kingdoms in that land, and the witch-king in his malice destroyed much that was once pure. Though forces drove his armies back, he returned and this happened until the forces of Gil-galad drove him back and all seemed at peace again, though in the dark of the night the Lords Celeborn and Galadriel departed once again west, to a council held in Mithlond, where nothing was heard and even fewer was ever thought of. Weeks after they at last left they returned, and life seemed to return to normal, the defenses were completed and feasts were held in recognition for the completion of the great wall at the gate of the city called Caras Galadhon. The stars once again rolled over the skies, and the moon changed his shape and form, then disappeared again and again, counting the months when peace ruled in Lorinand, with Amdir at its mighty head, until upon the fall celebration of the harvest, a messenger came to the borders of Lorinand, with escort from Greenwood the Great; dressed in the silver blue of Forlindon, bearing the Feanorian star, the messenger entered the great hall of Amdir where Celeborn and Galadriel sat beside Amdir and Amroth, and while Celebrian danced merrily with Alphindil and Celebrin, to music that winded the ways of a wild river, and flew the heights of birds. All but these select few were bidden to leave at that moment, and in hale and dreary demeanor, the messenger revealed his armor, gilded and newly forged, and thus spoke before the seated,
"Lords of Lorinand and Greenwood, Lords Amdir and Oropher of the eastern realm, I speak for the High King Erenion Gil-galad, who at this present time debates with his council, concerning a coming storm, a storm that none shall escape save by unity and joined force, for the shadow of the east remains to turn these days of joy into those of sorrow. The High King bids you..."
"He bids us nothing! Lord indeed! Tell your Master, that elfling of a King, that if he is to ask anything of me then he must learn better speech!"
This sudden rage at the denouncment of a King's pride came forth from Amdir who looked as though the entire world was his own, something of an image of Thingol at the arrival of the Noldor princes who deemed themselves higher than the King of Beleriand ere their arrival. He stood now, taller than any in the room, for none would dare match such a level of primal anger; the messenger in his proud regalia bowed his head at such an elf lord, who no thrust his finger toward the door of the hall,
"Leave my sight, proud servant, I will entertain no speech from one who shows no respect for a fellow King..."
And with that the messenger left rather quickly, and the sounds of a gallop were heard until he passed the great wall, for none would dare speak. Then at long last Galadriel spoke to Amdir, rising to his height allowing the golden locks about her face to frame her fiercely wise eyes,
"Was it wise King Amdir, to make an enemy of Erenion, much of what he said was true, the time for unity has come, unity against the very shadow that threatens all our preparations."
"Too many times have elves bearing the mark of Feanor called me less than I was, Erenion is no different, let him come himself and ask my aid in battle...there will be no more discussion of this."
And with that he left the great hall and so too did Celeborn and Galadriel, hoping to reason with Amdir before all was put to ruin. Leaving the four elves silent and pondering what had happened, and silent they remained until in a fit of nervous laughter Amroth laughed, and the silence was broken. Later that night on that hill they spoke to each other the first night in Lorinand, the two companions, about the future of what was to come, of what seemed to appear out of the upper air as rain on a stormy day that was once filled with sunlight. Alphindil spoke first as they gazed into the ancient stars that were framed by the opening in the canopy of the trees,
"We always find ourselves in this place do we not Celebrin? The times of joy we know are brief as the rose that grows in winter..."
"When was the longest span of time either of us felt joy in one another's company?"
"I believe it was Mithlond"
"Ah yes for all that span of time we were free of these worldly troubles, and now, that time is being made up for...how did it come to this Alphindil? How did the victory we once overjoyed in become part of this...this long defeat."
"It is as the old as the world, this song of evil as much as the song of life and good, the stains of Morgoth can never truly be washed away, the taint in the music of the world can never be mended..."
"You have become philosophical in your time have you not my friend?"
"Come let us not jest this night...Not while all we know could fall apart, leaving the stars to watch our long dance with death and life."
And the twain sat in the company of the other, sharing no words, needing none, and they sat and watched the stars until sleep took them one by one, and they lay in no bed that night, but upon the hill of Niphredil and Elanor, beneath the home of Amroth, until the dawn brought the sound of hooves walking upon the paths of the Golden Wood, unto the very gate of Caras Galadhon, and a mighty elf garbed in golden armor wearing a crown of gold and silver upon his head, and the star of Feanor embroidered in shining gold upon his cloak of regal violet.
It was in the early morning hours when the High King Erenion Gil-galad of Forlindon arrived at the home and hall of Amdir, King of Lorinand, dressed in his golden armor, ready and poised for what seemed like a battle of swords rather than one of words or diplomatic warfare. He and his train of one followed their guide through the maze of trees, around the very walls of Caras Galadhon, and passed the high perched eyes of grey-clad guards upon talans high above them. And when he at last entered the hall of Amdir, he was welcomed with a cold and sterile reception, for though the curtosy was given him that all present stood at his arrival, Amdir ordered none to speak words of welcome until he himself spoke to the traveler. And so did the High King of the Western shores of Middle-earth enter the abode of the King of the East, in silence, deafening silence, until Amdir himself spoke at long last,
"How long it has been young Erenion, since I saw your face last, you carry much cares since the days of your youth."
"Hail King Amdir of Lorinand, I thank thee for granting me entrance into your hall."
This was spoken, surprisingly humble manner, though any could tell it pained the Proud King to speak to the elf before him in such a manner, Galadriel herself was given more respect than that in the face of Amdir. Yet it surprised all to see the proud High King bow in respect to Amdir, holding his hand over his heart and placing the pointed tip of his great spear, Aiglos, upon the ground; Amdir himself was moved by this gesture of supplementation, so moved in fact that the Sindar's cool and collected heart stumbled and he bid the Noldor,
"Please Erenion, bend not your waist at me, I see now the meaning of your actions, speak freely in my hall as you would in your own..."
"I thank you Amdir, if it please your will I shall speak to you and your hall about matters that are pressing..."
"Speak as you will, yet I must caution you, many of my folk trust less the words of a Noldo, than the words of a stone that says it is a tree."
Celebrin smiled as Amdir moved seamlessly into Quenya as if he had spoken it all his life, hiding the caution from his court, most of who knew only their native tongue. Thus did King Erenion Gil-galad begin by first addressing the entire gathering.
"People of Lorinand, Kindred from the far reaches of the East, a shadow grows south of your blessed realm, a shadow that despite any defense will swallow the entire world...A last alliance with the forces of men has been approached, and as I speak before you, a great host of men and elves marches to the plain before the fields of Mordor, the Dagorlad. There my forces have gathered, yet the power of the elves to withstand the evil of Mordor cannot withstand this very storm...unless unity can be achieved...there is no hope for tomorrow. I know, I as Noldo have no right, after all my forbearers did to your people, whether consciously or not, to seek your aid once again as the former kings did in the ages past. Yet now I do not ask you as supplicants and feudal servants to the Noldor whim, but as allies in the long battle our people have fought side by side, though not mind by mind. I beg of you, Teleri, Noldor, Eldar, kindred from ancient ties aid us your kin in this last stand against the power that seeks to undo all that we have loved, stand with me now, lest all fall to ruin..."
The hall was silent, and all eyes went from one King to the other, and Amdir looked at Erenion with eyes so deep none but a sea-farer could fathom their depth. And then Amdir stood allowing his long flowing robe to drop to the floor in a cascade of green, red and earthen hues, revealing the King to wear mail beneath his tunic and a sword present at his side. Then in one unlooked for motion, swift as an owl's flight, he drew his steel blade and touched the golden spear of Gil-galad with a grand clang of steel and sharpened metal as it cut through the air and silence. Stepping back and sheathing his sword, Amdir spoke with a great and powerful voice,
"The People of the Woods have never neglected friend in battle, nor have we ever ran from doom unending, even though despair claimed many a valiant life in the heat of battle. You have our swords and bows Erenion, we will aid you in this, as we once did before the malice of the Shadow drove our people apart."
A sigh went through the great hall, and many a knight and lord spoke words of promise to this cause that seemed once so far away, yet now burned in their hearts, as hope unlooked for returned. Yet Celebrin sighed a sigh of bittersweet remorse, for indeed though this was a valiant deed to be accomplished, part of his heart longed for peace from war. Alphindil noticed his friend's troubled mind and spoke,
"Does this war trouble you my friend? You must agree the times we live in now, call for this one last stand against the power of the darkness."
"Do not doubt my valor, my friend... in my long years, I have grown tired of war...and the life it takes from many, so many a honorable elda. Yet if it must be so, that we shall at long last be at peace through the fires of war, then so be it...I shall not loose hope, if you stand by my side as we always have in times such as these."
"I shall, until death take one of us, I shall never part your side, mellon nin."