Dragonfly: Yes, Thranduil has matured. That's why from now on it will probably be Edwen Nana who splutters in a fury. She'll be Thranduil's proxy, as I have reformed him so very thoroughly. Regarding Tawarmaenas: I've got to get him into Elrohir and Elladan's company so that he can be enlightened as to the facts of life. Should be a funny chapter.
FarflungWow! You've performed an epic feat, catching up with me like that! I shall have to write faster! Yes, as I commented to Dragonfly, that young Elf needs to be provided with a little information on the subject of where elflings come from. Something like a Mirkwood version of 'Got Milk?' Oh, yes, Tathar's ingeniousness figures in Chapter 2 of 'Edwen Nana', which I suspect you have not seen because you haven't reviewed it. You may want to check it out. (How's that for trolling for reviews? I am so subtle!)
Chapter 40: Dragon Discourse
Elrond looked out across the valley of Rivendell and sighed.
"What troubles you, Elrond?" said Glorfindel, coming up to stand by him upon the balcony.
"I am thinking how good it is to be here—and how sorry I shall be to depart."
"Do you regret your choice?"
Elrond shook his head.
"No, it was either be parted from Middle Earth or from my kindred."
"You have still been parted from some of them, and you may be parted from others in the future."
"True. I made the best choice I could, knowing as I did that nothing was certain."
"Most choices are like that—based upon probability, not certainty. After all, confronted with a certainty, we should not have to exercise much of a choice, would we?"
Elrond sighed again, a trifle melodramatically.
"Who would have imagined that immortality could be such a burden? I am able to worry about uncertainties for all eternity. Wonderful!"
"When you have left for the Undying Lands, will not all worry cease?"
Elrond grimaced.
"Perhaps, but then all the interest will have gone out of my life! I shall have that to worry over!"
"Elrond! You are bent on being melancholy today! I will spare no more sympathy on you. I will go and find someone more deserving—Estel, for example."
"You mean Aragorn."
"Oh, yes, I had forgot. Aragorn."
"And, why, pray tell, is Aragorn in need of sympathy?"
"He has been thinking."
"Thinking! How dreadful!"
"Elrond! Do be serious!"
"I thought I was to be chided for being too serious."
"Elrond!"
"Whatever is Elrond doing to cause you to shout at him so?" said Gandalf, coming up to join them.
"He is being provokingly paradoxical. He is mournful because he must confront difficult choices, and he is mournful because he is to be spared difficult choices."
"For shame, Elrond, that you should be so hard to please. One would think you an elfling."
"Oh, and you have behaved so well lately, Mithrandir," scoffed Elrond. "Tell me again how you came to be locked up in Dol Guldur."
"Well, well," said Gandalf hastily, "water over the dam, that."
"And wizard through the window," chortled Glorfindel. "At least Aragorn is past such behavior."
"Ah, yes, Aragorn. Did my ears deceive me, or were you and Elrond discussing Aragorn as I drew near?"
"Yes," Glorfindel replied. "I was just telling Elrond that Aragorn was deserving of sympathy."
"Hmph!" snorted Gandalf. "A prince and heir to the throne of Gondor deserving of sympathy? Whatever for?"
"I suppose," said Elrond, "that the fact he will have to fight through an army of Orcs before claiming said throne may have something to do with it."
"Indeed," agreed Glorfindel. "But it was not for that reason that I said he was deserving of sympathy. Since he has learned of his heritage, he has for the first time given great thought to his mortality and that of his mother. Growing up amongst Elves in Imladris, this was not a matter that has hitherto dominated his thoughts. Now, having learned of his genealogy, he cannot help but think of the ways in which he is not elvish, his vulnerability to the passage of time being one."
"Is he affrighted by this knowledge?" asked Gandalf.
"Not affrighted, no. But suddenly he feels that time for him will always be short. He realizes that he does not have an eternity in which to achieve all that is expected of him."
"Although not an Elf, he will still live a very long time," Gandalf pointed out, "for he is one of the Dúnedain, in whose veins flows the blood of Numenor."
"Moreover," added Elrond, "although you say that he is not an Elf, he is a descendant of Elros, and so part-elven, even if the moiety be small. His lifespan may be even longer than those of Men who do trace their ancestry to Numenor."
"These things be true," conceded Glorfindel, "but the length of life allotted to a full-blooded Numenorean was as nothing compared to the length of time that will pass during the space of an eternity. Aragorn understands this."
"What would you have us do to assuage his concerns?" asked Elrond thoughtfully.
"Do? Nothing. Why should he not be mindful of his mortality? Why should he not be eager to make the most of the time allotted to him? No, Elrond, you should do nothing. Or, if anything, encourage him in his resolve to seize the day. Above all, do not place obstacles before him."
"I place obstacles before him!" exclaimed Elrond indignantly. "Why ever would I do that?"
"Because of the affection you feel for him," replied Glorfindel levelly.
"Glorfindel has a point," said Gandalf. "Elrond, our friend Halbarad will not be able to travel for several weeks. Aragorn has told me he means to set out on his own, without waiting for Halbarad to recover. What say you to this plan?"
"What say I!?" exclaimed Elrond, horrified. "What say I!? Mithrandir, if you have encouraged him in this hare-brained scheme—oh, I see," the elf-lord suddenly broke off in embarrassment.
Glorfindel smirked, and even Gandalf allowed himself a most unwizardly grin.
"Very well," Elrond conceded sheepishly. "I wish to safeguard my young kinsman and foster-son. Is that so very dreadful?"
"No one said it was 'dreadful'," observed Gandalf. "Glorfindel merely wished to suggest that it would be unwise. In this I concur."
"So Aragorn is to go off on his own," sighed Elrond. "Now I feel truly melancholy. For even if he does not come to grief, this will be the beginning of a long process by which I shall lose him. We will be sundered at the last."
"True," agreed Gandalf. "And this may be but the first of many losses."
"Not 'may' but 'will be'," said Elrond gloomily. "I do not even wish to imagine what the other losses shall be. But I have a favor to ask of you, Mithrandir."
"I will grant it if I may."
"Keep an eye on him, will you?"
"Indeed I shall. Two, whenever I can spare them."
"Oh, that's encouraging," teased Glorfindel, "as we know how rarely you are otherwise engaged."
The three friends joined together in hearty laughter. Attracted by the noise, Erestor poked his head through the door.
"Let me guess: you are telling goblin jokes."
"No," said Gandalf.
"Dwarf jokes, then?"
"No. Knock-knock jokes," said the wizard with a perfectly straight face.
"Knock-knock jokes?"
"Yes. I say 'Knock-knock'; you say 'Who's there?'"
"Very well."
"Knock-knock."
"Who's there?"
"Dragon."
Erestor looked at Gandalf expectantly.
"Ah," said Gandalf, "I forgot: you must now say 'Dragon who?' Let's try again. Knock-knock."
"Who's there?"
"Dragon."
"Dragon who?"
"Dragon the Dwarf's treasure around kept the time from dragon for the dragon."
Erestor stared at Gandalf.
"And this is supposed to be funny?"
"Well," said Gandalf, "you are forever punning. Why may I not do so?"
"Because," replied Erestor with great dignity, "you only do so-so when you do so."
"Ooooh," chorused Gandalf, Elrond, and Glorfindel in unison. Then all tried to look dignified in unison as Galadriel glided gracefully onto the balcony.
"This is an estimable company," she observed, "no doubt engaged in weighty conversation."
"In truth," said Elrond solemnly, "before you arrived the conversation was dragon."
"Dragging?"
"Yes, but now you are here, we trust it will be dragon no longer."
Galadriel looked at Elrond quizzically.
"Let us not be dragon this out forever," Glorfindel now joined in, his face all innocence. "The Lady Galadriel no doubt has sought us out for a reason."
"Indeed I have," said the Lady. "My pardon if I am dragon you away from an important discussion, but I am concerned about Aragorn, whose mood seems to be dragon almost as much as that of a Dwarf who has witnessed a dragon dragon away the Naugol's hard-won treasure."
Even Erestor was impressed.
"But let me be serious," Galadriel resumed. "Elrond, your foster-son is anxious to commence his journeys throughout Middle Earth. I have just come away from speaking with him, and he is under the impression that he faces opposition from you in this matter."
"I have already been lessoned on this subject by Glorfindel," Elrond replied.
"Ah, and as you have been lessoned, no doubt your resistance is the less."
"Yes, as a result of his lessoning, my fears are lessening. But all punning aside," Elrond added hastily as Erestor grimaced, "Glorfindel has warned me not to stand in his way."
"I am glad to hear that. Aragorn has told me that he means to travel to Bree-land, as he and Halbarad had originally purposed."
Elrond looked relieved.
"Bree-land. Excellent! What trouble could he possibly get into in Bree-land?"
Glorfindel and Gandalf both simultaneously opened their mouths, but Galadriel gestured at them to be silent.
"He will in fact get into quite a bit of trouble in Bree-land," she said matter-of-factly, "but nothing he cannot manage to deal with in a satisfactory manner."
Elrond opened his mouth to protest, and it was his turn to be gestured into silence by Galadriel.
"Elrond, we have already agreed that you will not place obstacles in Aragorn's path."
"But now you are assuring me that he will get into trouble in Bree-land!"
"Yes. He will also get into trouble in Hollin, the Misty Mountains, the Northern Waste, Fangorn Forest, Northern Mirkwood and Southern Mirkwood, Erebor, Esgaroth, Rohan, and Gondor. Also Moria and the Paths of the Dead. Oh, yes, Dorwinia, too."
"Dorwinia!?" chorused everyone.
Galadriel smiled sweetly. Sometimes she derived such enjoyment out of being prescient. She arose and swept from the room, leaving behind three befuddled Elves and one flummoxed wizard.
"Whatever trouble could he get into in Dorwinia?" wondered Elrond. "The folks thereabouts are famous only for their wine."
"Maybe," puzzled Glorfindel, "he will get into trouble because they are famous for their wine."
"Nonsense," huffed Erestor. "Aragorn has always been very abstemious—unlike certain Elves I could mention!"
"I believe," said Gandalf, now putting on a droll face, "that this conversation is once again dragon."
Erestor arose with a great show of being indignant.
"I have had enough of this discussion and will now return to dealing with more significant matters."
"What could be more significant that the future of the heir to the throne of Gondor?" said Glorfindel. "But I, too, have tasks I must attend to. Elrond and Mithrandir, I leave you both with the honor of conveying instructions to Aragorn as he prepares to depart Imladris on his first unaccompanied quest. Ah, and here is the young Man in question."
"Oh, thank you, Glorfindel," Elrond thought to himself sourly. "Aragorn, mae govannen," he said aloud.
"Good morning, Ada. I have just taken my leave of my Naneth, and now I have come to bid you farewell."
With a shock, Elrond realized that Aragorn had not come to ask his permission or even to seek his blessing. Instead, he was here merely to inform him of his plans, which he meant to put into effect whether or no his foster-father approved. Elrond cleared his throat. He had not been asked for his blessing, but he knew Aragorn nonetheless would be pleased if it were granted.
"Aragorn, ion-nîn, I am glad to know that your plans are complete for this journey. Have you been provided with everything you need, or is there something that I could see to on your behalf?"
"Thank you, Ada, but I have already been to consult the Armorer, and the Cook is even now overseeing the packing of food suitable for the trail."
Elrond's face fell slightly, and he could not entirely hide the disappointment in his voice.
"So there is nothing I can do for you?"
Aragorn smiled fondly at the elf-lord.
"Ada, you have already done everything you could for me, else I would not be prepared to venture forth."
The young Man stepped forward and placed one of his hands upon Elrond's shoulders, and the elf-lord reciprocated before pulling the youth into a hearty hug, much to the surprise of both Aragorn and Gandalf. At last Elrond released the Ranger and stepped back to survey him up and down.
"You look scruffy, Aragorn, but I suppose that is by design, so that you will blend in with Men."
The Dúnadan grinned.
"Of course, Ada," he said airily. "All these years I have been grubby merely in preparation for this day. As Glorfindel has always been at pains to point out, to do anything well requires practice."
"Although," interjected Gandalf, "it helps to have a natural talent or propensity."
Wizard, Elf, and Man joined together in convivial laughter. Then Aragorn sobered.
"Ada, I am leaving tomorrow morning. I make for Bree."
"Ah, as that is so," said Gandalf, "may I be permitted to ask a favor?"
"Of course, Gandalf."
"Make a circuit of the border of The Shire, will you? Touch base with several of the Watchers. Let me know if anything untoward has been observed lately."
"I will, Gandalf."
"When you are in Bree itself, be wary of any of the Ferny clan. Do not speak freely in their presence!"
"Is there anyone in Bree-land whom I should trust in especial?"
"The Barliman kin are reliable to a certainty. They will look askance at you because you are a Ranger, and they do not hold with folks who lead irregular lives with no fixed abodes. Still, they are decent folk incapable of treachery, and if you mention my name, they will try to assist you as much as they can, subject, of course, to the limitations of their imaginations, which are not overlarge, for they can see no further than the borders of their own little land."
"I will remember your advice, Gandalf."
Aragorn turned to leave the room but then remembered something.
"I wish to say farewell to Legolas, but no one knows where he is. Have either of you seen him this day?"
"I have not seen him," replied Elrond, "but I expect that you will find him in a tree."
"How very helpful, Ada, as there are hundreds of trees hereabouts!"
Elrond smiled.
"When Legolas was an elfling, there was one tree in particular, the eldest of oaks, in which he preferred to while away the hours. Do you know the tree whereof I speak?"
"Yes, I know it well."
"Then I suggest you make for that oak. My heart tells me that you shall find him curled up in the embrace of its branches."
Aragorn went out into the grounds of Rivendell and sought out that tree. He peered up into its branches but saw no sign of Legolas. At last he sighed and turned away to go back to the Hall.
"You give up too easily, Aragorn," came a voice from above.
Aragorn glanced up once more into the tree, but still he saw nothing.
"Very well, Greenleaf," he called at last. "You have made your point. Now show yourself!"
The Ranger saw something move and concentrated very hard on that spot. At length he succeeded in making out the shape of his elven friend.
"Legolas, I would swear that you make your skin turn green when you hide thus in a tree."
"'Twould be an unnecessary skill," teased Legolas, "for to hide from you 'tis only necessary to pull up my hood and press my face against a branch. You would miss an Orc if it had the wit to remain still."
"Then let us be thankful that Orcs lack such wit," laughed Aragorn.
Legolas swung down from his branch, landing lightly beside the Dúnadan.
"You are leaving, Aragorn?"
"Yes. I have come to bid you farewell."
"Oh, but you won't be rid of me so easily!"
"What do you mean?"
"I am traveling that way myself. You wouldn't be so rude as to turn down my company?"
Aragorn hesitated. He had prided himself on his resolution to go alone. On the other hand, it might be long before he again had the chance to travel in the company of the elven prince.
"I should be pleased if you would accompany me, Legolas. But what will your father say?"
Legolas grinned.
"Whatever he says, poor Gilglîr will have to bear the brunt of it. For the time being, I am out of my father's reach, and I intend to make the most of it!"
"I thought you had given over running away."
"But I am not running away! I am merely accompanying my comrade and fellow prince on a quest. We royals have to stick together, don't you think?"
"A 'quest' may be laying it on a bit thick, Greenleaf. 'Tis no more than a simple reconnoitering mission."
"Then my father couldn't possibly object!" declared Legolas triumphantly.
Amused, Aragorn shook his head.
"Are you at least going to tell Elrond?"
"I've confided in Mithrandir. He'll tell Elrond after I'm well away."
"You are as cagey as ever, Legolas," chuckled Aragorn.
"And therefore will never be caged," retorted Legolas cheerfully.
With that the two friends went laughing toward the Hall.