The 'Life in Imladris' Arc – stories focused on the inhabitants of Rivendell.
Deception and Heartbreak

Disclaimer: This fictional story is completely made up for fun and no profit is made from it. Any similarities to real events or other writings is purely coincidental.

Please leave me a review or constructive criticism. I want to be a better writer. Thank yous are at the end of the chapter.

Chapter Seven

"Is there anything in particular you would like to do this morning?" Lindir asked, taking a seat on one corner of the cot.

"I would like to see my mare," Legolas offered after a silent second.

"That is fine," Lindir smiled, trying to reassure the youth. He did not want Legolas to be nervous around him or it would make the morning very tense. Legolas was already dressed to be outside whereas Lindir was wearing robes more appropriate for copying documents all day in Lord Elrond's study. "We will go down to the stables, but first I must stop in my room and change into clothes better suited for riding." Legolas nodded and followed Lindir from the room.

In the private family quarters, there is a main hall from which two slightly more narrow halls branch. Down the right hall are the apartments of Elrond and his immediate family, as well as a few empty rooms which will hopefully either be filled with more children, or sometimes, by Galadriel and Celeborn when they come to visit. Down the left hall are the rooms of Erestor, Glorfindel, and Lindir, as well as a few of Elrond's lesser advisors and the main healer, Envinyar, because this was the wing of rooms closest to the Hall of Healing.

"Are you related to Lord Elrond?" Legolas asked, his wide blue eyes taking in every minute detail of the carefully crafted walls and runners. Though he did not know exactly where he was, having awoken in a strange room that morning, Legolas knew this stretch of the Last Homely House was not near the room where he had spent his first night among his father's guards.

"Nay, but I do most of the boring work for Lord Elrond, so he decided I at least deserve a nice room," Lindir joked. Legolas smiled impishly up at him.

"Teitho does the boring work for Ada, but he does not have a nice room," Legolas informed Lindir. "He complains regularly."

"I suppose he should. I do not know what I would do without my nice room," Lindir replied. He opened the door to the antechamber of his suite, which was quite small compared to Glorfindel's next door, but it never bothered him much. It was not as if he entertained many guests in his room. His bedroom, on the other hand, was nicely sized and had its own private bathing room, once again quite tiny, but at least he did not have to use the main baths like the rest of the inhabitants of Imladris. His favorite part of his room was the wide balcony that overlooked the waterfalls to the east.

"Are you a musician?" Legolas asked in amazement. Lindir guessed he had seen the large gold harp standing proudly in one corner of the room with a music stand and padded bench carved to match the intricate designs twisting about the frame of the harp.

"Yes," Lindir replied, shrugging off his formal robes and warily watching the younger elf approach his most prized possession. It had been a gift from Glorfindel for the celebration of his coming of age. He had turned fifty almost two millennia ago, but the harp was still in perfect condition, the result of Lindir's expert care and the quality of its craftsmanship.

Legolas traced a careful finger over the inlaid mithril, which caused the gold finish of the harp to nearly glow in the bright light of the morning. "Do you play anything else?"

"There are a few things in that chest over there," Lindir answered, pointing to an oak chest across the room. He breathed a little easier now that Legolas was moving away from his priceless harp. He ducked into his closet to find a jerkin and thicker leggings for horseback riding. He also pulled out his boots. He saw that Legolas had opened the chest and was pulling out the instrument cases containing flutes, lyres, pipes, a viol, and a few percussion pieces.

"You play all of these?"

"Yes," Lindir replied, tying the last clasps of his jerkin and walking over to Legolas. "Do you play any instruments?"

"No, but Merilië's brother played the harp and she loved to listen to him."

"Who is Merilië?" Lindir questioned, helping Legolas place the cases back into the chest.

"She was my nanny, but she died," Legolas answered. He sniffled slightly and Lindir regretted bringing up the sore subject. He had overheard Elrond and Erestor speaking about Legolas' situation but they hadn't mentioned any particulars, like the poor deceased elf's name.

"I am sorry to hear that," Lindir said honestly. He glanced over at his precious harp and then turned back to Legolas. "Would you like to learn to play the harp? Glo- My ada always told me that our lost loved ones watch over us through a special mirror in the Halls of Mandos. Perhaps Merilië would think it grand if you learned the play the harp, since she loved it so much."

"You would teach me?"

"Only if you are interested."

"I would like that. Can we now?"

"I don't see why not," Lindir smiled, closing the top to the oak chest and standing. Legolas followed him over to the grand harp. Lindir sat down on the bench and adjusted it so he was comfortable and within reach of the furthest strings. He ran his fingers over the strings lovingly, drawing forth a beautiful waterfall of notes. Content with his setup, Lindir motioned for Legolas to come to him. He pulled the younger elf onto his lap. "Before you learn to play songs, you must learn what each of the notes are and how to pluck the right strings to get that note. Learning the notes is called playing scales."

"Do you still play scales?" Legolas asked.

"Once in a while," Lindir answered. "When I first received this harp, I practiced my scales whenever I could, so I could find the perfect pitches. I practiced so much that Glorfindel, whose room is right next to mine…" Lindir pointed to the wall where the door to his closet was located, "…threatened to throw my harp into the Bruinen if I didn't cease. Fortunately, he is down at the training fields so we don't have to worry about his nasty moods."

"I wouldn't want to make him mad," Legolas insisted. "He is going to practice archery with me this afternoon."

"You are fortunate. Glorfindel is quite good at archery," Lindir replied. "Come now, let me show you the first note." He reached around Legolas to pluck at one string and then other, creating a scale. They remained in Lindir's room until Erestor came to find them for the midday meal.

tbc…

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Arian – Definitely denial. :)