Chapter 6- Imladris: All Good Things...

A very, very short time later

"I will yell if you do not let me go," Silaerín spoke, issuing her ultimatum, though she had a feeling her demands were not going to met by any long shot.

The evil snickering started on either side of her, as her two captors tightened their grip on her arms so that she would not be able to try any sort of escape. This was getting ridiculous. Abduction from the library that morning was bad enough, but then parading her about the whole of Imladris, or so it felt like, in silence and with a blindfold over her eyes was entirely different. Already she was planning that they receive a rather large comeuppance if they ever let her go.

Why were they holding her captive anyway, dragging her along so that her gown caught on burrs and protruding twigs from the trees and bushes?

She sighed, trying to calm the anger and the nervousness that was rising slowly in her body. But that only partially worked. "Will you at least tell me where you are taking me?"

"You will see, Silaerín," the twin on her right said, though it was difficult to tell exactly which twin had said it without being able to look at them.

The other twin to her left laughed, "You do not like surprises?"

She scoffed and turned her head in the direction of that voice, "Nay, I do not, and you two should know this by now. I prefer to plan, to see to any surprise that could happen beforehand and then have everything go to plan."

"And that is exactly why we are doing this... to break you of your old, boring ways," the twin to her left said, but loosened his grip. This had to be Elladan now on her left, as he was the kinder one and was the one that usually did the explaining of the two, and Elrohir did the implementing, though both were equally talented at planning.

"I am neither old nor am I boring, Elladan," Silaerín said.

Her kidnappers were quiet then, until Elladan spoke, "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" she asked as innocently as she could manage, but knew the small smile on her lips that she fought to tame would give her away.

"You know what he is asking," Elrohir replied. "It is baffling to me that our parents have trouble telling us apart, even when they are looking at us, and yet you come here, and even with your eyes covered, you are able to distinguish who is who."

Silaerín turned her head to Elrohir and smiled widely, but did not say anything more on the matter of being able to tell the twins apart so easily. Truthfully, if she continued to explain to them how she knew, she would embarrass herself more than any other time in her life. After all, the only twin she really knew well was Elladan, which seemed odd to think of, considering that the twins were almost exactly alike, but she knew Elladan's subtle differences more than she knew Elrohir's.

Elladan just seemed different to her, though she could not explain it to herself why he was so different.

Maybe it was in his placid mannerisms compared to Elrohir's more gregarious and blunt character that made him so dissimilar to his identical twin. It was easy to see that Elladan was the tactful diplomat of the pair, and Elrohir the shrewd decision maker. Though, it did not matter which way she put it or tried to come up with believable excuses for herself as to why she paid so much attention to Elladan, she just was at loss on a decent way to explain it.

And the only way she could even begin to explain it was that she had a great sense of happiness and calm whenever it was Elladan she was around.

However, she would never tell them this because she worried the twins would know exactly what she was going through, even though she did not know herself. And that was the last thing she wanted, to be out of the loop of information. So for now, they would remain in the dark.

"We will remove the blindfold if you tell us how you do it," Elladan tried his best to persuade her into her confession.

"As much as I would like to see where I am going, I trust both of you enough to not do me any harm," she said. "So for now, you will not remove the blindfold, and I will not tell you how I tell you two lovely half-Elves apart."

"Fine then," Elrohir said, "we will leave the blindfold on even after we have reached our destination."

She sighed heavily, breathing in the cool early Spring air and recognizing the strange quality in it. "Are we close to water?"

That comment received a laugh from both of the twins and Elladan said, "We are in a valley surrounded by waterfalls, Silaerín. Of course we are near water."

"That is not what I meant," Silaerín pursed her lips in an annoyed fashion. "We are close to a river or lake. The air has changed."

It seemed that they both sighed simultaneously. Elrohir chuckled, "We should know better than to try to trick someone who lives on the shores of the Sea."

With that, her blindfold was removed and she was given the beautiful, peaceful sight of the small lake they had visited many times before on their walks. But why had they needed to blindfold her for this trip to the lake? There was nothing special here that she could see, at least not yet anyway. "I do not mean to be ungrateful for the outing, but why did I need to be blindfolded? I do not see anything different."

"To be completely honest, you did not need to have your eyes covered," Elrohir remarked, "but we like to bother you to push you past what you are accustomed to dealing with. You should know that by now. That is the only way you have learned, is to be irritated with us."

So this exercise was to help her grow more? It was true, though. Their method of getting her to take an active role in her life, and more particularly defending herself, was to annoy her into a submission that would make her speak to them and interact. She smiled to herself and sighed heavily. Why could her own brother not be like this? Or even her father?

Elladan looked down at her and smiled, "But we have not brought you out here with a blindfold for nothing."

With that, the twins left her side, Elrohir disappearing down the bank to untie one of the light Elven boats from its dock, and Elladan behind a tree to collect a satchel of what looked to be food and drink. "I do not give either of you enough recognition where recognition is due."

"It was Naneth's idea that we bring food," Elladan laughed and set the satchel in the boat when Elrohir returned. He turned and motioned for her to come to him. She obeyed, and each of them stretched out a hand to help her into the boat while steadying it with their other. When she was safely centered, each took spots at either end of the boat, balancing it out and making it sink slightly deeper into the water.

They all were quiet as Elladan took up the oars and began to row further out into the lake. She looked at each of them, "I find it rather unsettling that you two are rowing me out into the middle of lake, with no around should I need to shout for help."

"You really think that little of us, gwathel?" Elrohir laughed. "We would never do such a thing. You will never be harmed... intentionally."

Silaerín laughed at that, "That eases my mind only slightly."

"Good," Elrohir nodded and turned to look out at the land around the lake until Elladan had taken them all the way across the lake where the river started, and into a small hidden pool of water that was only large enough for two or three of their boats, but it was quiet and extremely verdant in this little bay area.

"What is in here?" she asked.

Elladan placed his hand beneath her chin and turned her head to the side. Silaerín felt herself smile, finding that the otters were there in their small nest built of the thick green grass and leaves, and surrounded with small stones. Except, now there were three newly born otter pups, all lined up in front of the mother and nursing noisily. Elladan sighed, "What we failed to do when we gave them their names was to see if they were female or male. And Nad Tad turned out to be a girl."

Silaerín laughed, "The pups are adorable. Have you named them yet?"

They both chuckled and looked at each other, Elrohir saying, "Why did no one like the names we chose? I thought they were accurate."

"Your father said he will have to warn your wives when it comes time to do the naming of your children," Silaerín said.

"That is if we ever take wives," Elladan said and turned back to watch the otter family.

"I am sure both of you will," she sighed and sat back in the boat, "whether they be elleth or woman."

Silence passed among them as they listened to the chirpings and whines from the baby otter that had been pushed away by its decidedly larger sibling. The smaller one nipped at the large one, telling it off in a series of loud whines and grunts, but it did not listen. However, the mother did, and nudged the large babe out of the way. The twins each laughed at the antics of the small one, but Silaerín could not help but draw a parallel between those two otter pups and her own life, though she was never as impassioned as the one who had been pushed from its place. She sighed heavily, thinking of her family still in Mithlond and what her father's reaction must have been to finding her gone. It must have not been too horrible if she had been here a year, but she still worried about it.

"What is wrong, Silaerín?"

She looked up at the question, finding that is was Elladan watching her closely instead of the otters like Elrohir was doing. "Nothing is wrong."

"That sigh was more than nothing, my lady," he said.

Silaerín looked at him for a long time, trying to decide if she really wanted to get into this discussion today. They had, for the past year, learned small bits of her life in Mithlond, but she had never deigned it necessary to tell them the whole story or the entire truth even though they wanted her to let it all out. "You do not want to know."

"Let us make our own decisions on that once you have told us," Elrohir now commanded and set into his place more comfortably.

"I was only remembering how it was in Mithlond," she spoke quietly, "my brother acts like that otter pup that pushed the smaller one away. But I do not have a mother to come along and nudge him back out of the way. I really would not like to speak of it right now."

"Tell us the story of your mother, please. Then we will bother you no longer," Elladan asked.

Silaerín glanced at him, "I do not know much. I had only learned to speak when she passed."

"Just what you can remember," Elladan said.

"My mother was not a normal elleth that was content to sit by and watch as all the ellyn around her went about and controlled her life. She took an active part in all aspects of Mithlond, from what I can remember. Grandfather would allow her to sit in on councils and also allow her to offer advice whenever it was not dealing with a matter of war. Both my grandfather and father tried to keep her as far from that as they could manage. From what I hear from your mother, she had a willful streak that made it possible for her stand along against some of the most demanding ellon in these councils," Silaerín explained. "She was given half of Galdor's lands, and that included Lórien. There was urgent business she needed to tend to there, so she left Mithlond quickly to take care of problem. All was well until her return journey. I am not quite sure what happened from here, but all I know is that she and her guards were traveling through Arnor when a group of wicked Men ambushed them. And though I think it is bad to say, I am glad that they did not realize my mother was an elleth before the killed her. If they had... I just cannot think what could have possibly happened."

"So her fëa is in the Halls, not still living with her hröa elsewhere in Aman?" Elrohir asked. "I thought she had been healed, but had only gone over Sea because she had lost interest in this world."

Silaerín sighed, "As I said, I do not quite know what happened on her return journey. All I know is that she is no longer in Middle-earth, leaving at the mercy of my father and brother."

Elladan watched her for awhile, rather closely and in a way she was not necessarily comfortable with, but he noticed that and turned his attention away, saying, "And this is why you father acts unlike any Elf I have ever heard of?"

She shrugged her shoulders and chewed on her lower lip, "I know not, Elladan. And I do not wish to continue talking about it now."

"Of course, pen mell," Elladan said.

A very somber mood settled over the three and they sat there for a long while, Silaerín not really wishing to talk, and the twins seemingly unable to figure out how they could possibly follow that story without acting as though they were careless to the memory of her mother. And it remained much like this for the rest of their excursion, though the rest was extremely short because she heard the faint call of her name from a great distance away. The twins rowed to the shore, to find Celebrían waiting for them at the dock.

"Silaerín, you are needed by Lord Elrond," Celebrían said, sounding distant and even to an extent angry at something. What had caused her to appear so distraught and unlike her composed self?

"Yes, Celebrían," Silaerín replied, stepping out of the boat with aide from the twins. "Why?"

"We have visitors from Mithlond," the Lady said flatly and unemotionally, though she clenched her mouth tightly as though she were trying to hold in some rather unflattering words. But that did not matter any longer, not after Celebrían has spoken in the same moment of visitors and Mithlond. Silaerín's stomach flipped within her, and she felt her heart plummet to the hard group making her expect to hear an unceremonious plop as it landed in the dirt and stayed there. She knew this time would come, when her father would arrive in Imladris to claim her again, and she had prepared herself for it. Except, it would seem that the planning jsd been in vain, as she was transformed into a ball of mixed emotions.

With neither saying anything more, the ellyth started a brisk walk back to the House, and to the end of her stay in Imladris.

"And you!" Nenvír roared on, pointing a finger at Galdor as he came to stand before him.

Elrond stood back, glad that his verbal flogging had subsided for a short time so that he could collect his thoughts. It had all happened so quickly. One moment, he had been holding council with Erestor and Glorfindel, and the next, Celebrían had whisked into the room in a flourish of silk gown and blonde-hair, halting all the proceedings to say that unannounced visitors had arrived. And she had barely been able to say from where when the Elf-lord from Mithlond had stormed in and taken over the room with his booming voice.

"You are lucky that I do not have the power to remove you from your post!" Nenvír continued. Really, this Elf could give any Balrog a run for his gold when it came to ferocity and overall viciousness... and that was not even including at the volume in which he was speaking. Elrond had received many lectures, some that had turned into yelling, but never before had he witnessed something like this. He was not one to deny the fact that through his life there were many opportunities for him to be worried or scared about things, but he had never felt this sort of fear. And it was not even for himself... it was for the elleth he had called daughter for a year and now had to turn over to this abominable excuse of a father.

How was Círdan even capable of raising such a son anyway?

Galdor remained in heated eye contact with Nenvír, never faltering in his stance. The emissary squared his shoulders and took the verbal assault with the best of them, until there was a break when Nenvír needed to think of more accusations he could add to the cauldron of tension and anger now very evident in the room. Elrond glanced to the side, to find Glorfindel standing just outside the door to the study with his hand on the hilt of his sword, communicating to him that he was willing to do whatever was necessary should Nenvír become more aggressive than he already was. Glorfindel caught his eyes, and Elrond motioned for him to remove his hand. Nenvír would not be any worse than this, or so he hoped. Maybe he was just very concerned for Silaerín, which he had a right to be. So there was a very minute bit of Elrond that said he would probably do exactly the same things under the same circumstances.

"The whole of my father's council is going mad, my father included!" Nenvír exclaimed. "This is all folly that you would do such a thing."

Galdor took a deep breath and looked defiantly into Nenvír's eyes, "I would do it many times more, and live through this flogging for the rest of my time here and the world's ending for Silaerín."

"You are not her father, just as my father is not, and just as Elrond is not!" Nenvír said, "You do not have the right to determine what is best for her."

"I do know what she was like before in Mithlond, Nenvír. You seem to forget this, and now I see what she has grown into and become," Galdor continued evenly. This was why he was such a trusted representative to the outlying realms of Arda, because he could withstand these angry people. "And might I say that it is wonderful what Lord Elrond has done in one year with her, doing the things that you have failed to accomplish as her own father for all of her life."

Nenvír grunted loudly and turned away, to begin pacing about the room. That comment from Galdor seemed to pacify him, that was until the commotions of the hall outside of the room alerted the Elves that Silaerín had finally arrived. The young elleth walked into the room slowly, her eyes on the ground and seemingly to have completely reverted back to the elleth she had been when she first arrived in Imladris. Nenvír stopped his pacing, and carefully scrutinized every inch of her as she slowly made her way to stand in front of him. Silaerín curtsied lowly to him, not saying anything.

And that about did it for Elrond. Now it was certain Nenvír was on the short list of living beings in Arda whom Elrond would like to see summarily dismissed from the world in the least civilized way imaginable. Grandparents should be respected, and polite bows should be expected, but Elrond knew that had he been in Nenvír's situation, the last thing he would have wanted was a bow from his daughter. He would have wanted to embrace her and ask her if she was well. Not have her show propriety to an undeserving father. And what was more, Nenvír made no attempt to take her into any form of embrace, he just stood over her, waiting for her to come out of her bow.

For the first time since Celebrían's entrance, the room was silenced to that of the sound of the leaves rustling outside the House. Glorfindel stood with Celebrían, Elladan and Elrohir just outside the door. Galdor still stood where he had been for Nenvír's yelling. And in the center of it all, stood the elleth who would not meet her father's eyes as her father stared down at her in a disgusted manner.

Finally, in a moment of triumph for Elrond and the other Elves there, Silaerín looked up at her father and held his gaze. It was apparent this was the first time anything like this had ever happened between them, and it shocked Nenvír. Silaerín looked around the room, and back at her father. "Would you rather yell at me with everyone watching, or alone?"

Elrond had to cover his mouth to keep the smile now formed there hidden and the laugh from escaping his lips. He glanced around the room, "Come, we should leave them some privacy." Without waiting for a response, Elrond emptied the room and shut the door to the study, looking around to find all of the Elves still standing there and looking at him expectantly. "I will see the Dark Forces take over Arda before I leave her completely alone with that beast," Elrond remarked.

There was an audible and visible sigh that came from the others as they started to disperse and Elrond set his post next to the door, reminding him of his time as Gil-Galad's herald and being given such duties as watching for intruders, or for listening in on conversations when it was necessary. He glanced to his side, though, finding that his sons had not moved at all.

Before he could remark on anything or tell them to leave, Elladan said, "We wish to stay. We are her protectors."

That received a nod from Elrohir, making Elrond involuntarily raise a curious eyebrow. He had never heard this bit of information. Her protectors? But he did not have a chance to say anything as the speaking began again within the room.

"Silaerín, I forbade you from leaving Mithlond unless it was a journey over Sea," Nenvír spoke in a surprisingly calm manner.

"I know that, Adar," she spoke, "but Iauradar sent me. I trust in the knowledge that he has the ability to know the outcome of things before he does them, and that he sent me here for a reason."

"He sent you here to anger me," Nenvír said. "He does not agree with the way I raise you."

Elrond heard a scoff come from the young elleth, a very disgusted scoff as a matter of fact. He could only hope that Nenvír did not slap her or do worse in retaliation of her impudent remarks. Silaerín grunted lightly now, and said, "You are selfish, Adar. It was not about you. It had nothing to do with you except for the fact Iauradar wanted me to learn away from your influence. Everything about Grandfather's plan was to help me grow and learn things from skilled teachers, that I was not getting in Mithlond."

That seemed to have stunned Nenvír into a another silence, but it was short-lived. "You were purposely not receiving it in Mithlond, Silaerín! I made sure of it. The last thing I wanted was for you to get any taste of the things of the outside world and want to leave Mithlond!"

"No wonder Grandfather disagrees on how you raise me," Silaerín replied.

"What has happened to you, elleth?!" Nenvír asked, "What have they done that has changed you into a cheeky little she-Elf?"

Elrond cringed, and felt the gaze of his sons. That was not the least bit kind thing to say to one's daughter, and exceptionally uncalled for.

"They have done nothing but show me love and give me a secure place to become who I wished to be. Celebrían has been a mother, and Elrond a more loving father than you have ever been." Silaerín said. "And really, Adar, should you be asking that of me? What happened that has changed you into this unbearable being? At least I could tolerate you ignoring me, like you did before Naneth was slain. It is better than this constant control of my life."

Nenvír was silent again, this time for longer. "I am protecting you."

"From what, Adar?" she questioned, seemingly at her rope's end and beginning to sound emotional.

"From the world," he said, and let out a heavy sigh. Then there was movement in the room and what sounded like a large body falling onto a cushioned seat. "I love you, Silaerín, though I may not always show it properly."

"You have never shown it properly, Adar," Silaerín replied, her tone calm and soothing now. Elrond was proud and impressed at how well she stood up for herself, these needed questions and comments she was making still within the parameters of what Nenvír deserved.

"I have thought about this for the entire journey here to collect you, Silaerín," he said. "I love you. I do. And I try to control your spirit so that you will not one day wish to go gallivanting across Arda to have something happen to you like what happened to your mother. I knew if you came to any other place, especially a place as lovely as Imladris, you would want to be a regular visitor, and that opens a whole new range of things that could happen to you."

Silaerín was quiet then and is sounded like she also sat down, maybe beside him. She sighed, "But you wish me to resent you instead?"

"Truly, Silaerín, what have they done to give you this lip?" he asked, more beside himself than anything. "What came about the quiet elleth I once knew?"

"She is still here," Silaerín said, "but her resolve and strength has taken hold of her and taught her she can change things she does not believe in."

Nenvír sighed, the explanation seemingly enough for him. Elrond was surprised that Nenvír was acting so benevolently now compared to what he had been when he first arrived. Or even during his trips to Imladris for councils and other matters.

"You sound like your mother," Nenvír said and sighed again. "You are all I have left of her, Silaerín. I know that there is Celin, but you look so much like her and remind me of her so much so, I can not bear to see you leave Mithlond or myself."

There was complete silence, but then there was a soft, "Ada?"

She had changed from Adar or Ada. That had to be a good sign.

"Ada, I always knew at some level that this was why you acted with me as you did. Either that or the thought of me saddened you, because I was like Naneth," Silaerín said. "Was it for both reasons you kept me at arms length, but then controlled me so I would not leave?"

"Aye, it was," Nenvír replied and chuckled lightly. "Your grandfather was not kidding when he said you are a bright one for your age."

She giggled, "I am."

The Elf-lord of the Havens let out a long breath, "I vow to try to be more open minded in your traveling, if you so wish to continue to do that, as long as I accompany you wherever you go, instead of Galdor. I know it is selfish of me to ask this now, but at least let me share in the experiences of seeing new things with you."

"Ada, thank you," Silaerín replied.

"But, we are still leaving on the morrow for Mithlond. You have been gone long enough for now," he said, reverting back to his steeled, aggressive manner. Elrond sighed to himself and shook his head. The instant things started to look up, and he was about to forgive him, Nenvír had to go back to his angry and less than charitable tone of voice.

Silaerín sighed unhappily, "Aye, Adar. I will begin to ready my things."

"Do not forget to see your brother," Nenvír said. "He has traveled with me and was sent to tend to the horses."

There was silence, "Fine, Adar, I will do that."

With that, Elrond stepped away from the door, motioning for his sons to do so as well as the doors opened and Silaerín stepped out, glanced to either side, meeting their eyes. She said nothing and only sighed heavily as she turned on her heels to head to her chambers. Nenvír stepped out then, regarding them with an arrogant upturn of his nose, and continued down the corridor, to what Elrond could not figure out. Elrond shook his head and stepped between his sons, placing an arm around each of their shoulders.

"Promise me now that you never act like this with your children, no matter what choice you make," Elrond asked. "Just give their grandfather some peace of mind that they are not treated in such a way."

He received wide-eyed stares from each of them as they nodded their heads quickly. Elrond sighed. He knew he would not have to worry about Elladan and Elrohir, but for now it was just good to reassure that.

Naneth- mother

Gwathel- sworn sister

Nad Tad- Thing Two

Pen mell- Dear one

Adar- Father

Iauradar- grandfather

A/N: THANK YOU REVIEWERS!