Disclaimer: I, in no way, hold claim to 'The Lord of the Rings', or 'The
Silmarillion'. The characters are strictly the property of Tolkien
enterprises.
Ch 2
Glorfindel's voice released a choked grunt as he struggled with one of the ties to the mast while the wind continued to bellow against the small ship, creating massive waves across the blue expanse of the ocean. The rain continued to pelt down hard against the small crew, as they struggled to keep the boat steady and afloat, and Elrond's seneschal was certain that the water had grown a mind of its own.
Three and a half bloody weeks they had been sailing, and none but Gandalf knew where they were headed. By now their provisions were running very low, as much as they tried to conserve them. This much was true, if they did not reach land soon and restock their rations, they would surely starve to death.
His head shot up at the crack of thunder, followed by another strike of lightening lighting up the darkened sky, bringing his attention back to the present. His elven eyes shifted to Mithrandir, whom still stood at the bow of the ship, nearly oblivious to the raging storm around them. His ancient eyes looked onward, as if drawn to something in the distance, that not even he could see in this wrathful void of wind and water. The Istar said nothing of their destination, save this; 'Iluvatar has a plan for us, do not attempt to contend against the Sea.' The old Wizard had seemed quite convinced that the Vala, Ulmo, was conveying them to their rightful destination, and said that it was futile to strive against his will.
And so the Elves obediently did as they were bid, merely concentrating on keeping the ship out of danger while the great waters carried them away. Thus was their attention drawn while they were not mourning the loss of their loved ones. They still grieved over the destruction of their home, so much had been lost, and Glorfindel, as the others had, silently wondered why they had been spared, while every other living Elf had perished. Of course, he had no right to question the will of Iluvatar or the Valar. He, himself had been resurrected from he dead, but was never certain why he had been singled out among every other person that had lost their lives in the line of duty. He had eventually accepted their choice, and had come to serve as lord Elrond's seneschal, though for years the same question still came to mind.
His eyes unconsciously shifted over to the Elf lord, who stood nobly at the wheel, his hands steady as he kept the boat steady. Glorfindel was quite surprised, at first, when the Loremaster had offered to take the helm. The thought had never occurred to him that his master knew how to steer a ship. Then again, he thought, Elrond could be very full of surprises that never ceased to amaze him.
The large oars had been abandoned prier to Gandalf's request, and so each had taken a station, doing what they could. He turned to Erestor whom was across from him, also managing the heavy mast with difficulty. It was obvious that the advisor was not accustomed to such arduous activity. Often times, the golden haired Elf would walk in to his study and find him studying scrolls or writing on feet of sheepskin, hardly spending a moment's time of relaxation. He did better behind a desk than on the wooden boards of a ship, this much was obvious. But despite the situation, Glorfindel could not contain a chuckle that he tried to hide behind his hand when a large spray of water hit the thoroughly drenched Elf, followed by an angered growl as he glared accusingly at the ocean.
Galadriel and Celeborn had relocated to the lower decks, rummaging and counting what little stock they had left, rationing it off into different piles.
The Elf lord's eyes finally drifted to the youngest Elf among them, whom was perched way up high in the small 'nest' of the mast's post. Though it was difficult to make him out against the drowning downpour and the gusts of wind, Glorfindel could easily tell that his bright eyes remained drawn to the distance, searching for something that could not be seen. Though it was obvious that the Sinda's thoughts were anywhere but the horizon.
Loss was something the young Elf had been forced to deal with from a very young age. Since the first hunts in his majority, Legolas had been forced to witness the killings as he defended his home against the threats of Dol Guldur. He had never truly seen the beauty of Greenwood, being born only after the spawn of Ungoliant infested the once majestic forest. Throughout his young life, Legolas' stern, yet loving father had done everything in his power to protect him, seldom letting him away from their borders, even after he had come of age. Thranduil had been devastated to learn that his youngest child had set out as one of the nine walkers to destroy the One Ring, and when finally he returned home, he was greeted with both chastisement and loving arms.
But never again would the young prince feel those powerful arms embrace him in greeting, nor the firm voice and the stern façade that would suddenly fall into a loving expression behind closed doors.
Legolas had been heartbroken when Aragorn had finally passed, and he was completely devastated years later in Valinor when Gimli's time had finally come millennia ago, the only thing keeping him from going mad being his mother and father's supportive presence. But no more would the Woodland king be there to comfort him.
Nay, they had all suffered losses that would take a long time to heal. After the war of the Ring, and the dominion of Man had finally come, the Elves had sailed to the Undying Lands with what life they had left in them. Even then, they had all suffered tremendously. Glorfindel clearly remembered Elrond's reaction when he had learnt of his children's choice to become mortal. It had nearly broken him, and the Elf lord had no choice but to sail for Valinor, lest his grief kill him first. He had been happy for Arwen, as difficult as it was for him to accept her choice, and he had supported Elladan and Elrohir in their decision as well, as much as he dared dissuade them, for they were inseparable, and one would not leave without the other. The Loremaster had probably lost more loved ones than any other upon this small vessel, those including even his parents and his brother, and now his beloved Celebrian, the only one he had left to live for. But there was naught that anyone could do now. They had no choice but to accept their current situation, and learn to adapt to the circumstance.
The seneschal suddenly cursed aloud as another wave crashed into the boat, spraying the already drenched Elves with more of the salty liquid, leaving them sputtering for oxygen. Not long after, Another wave slammed against the vessel, and was precisely when Elrond became worried.
Then, without warning, the sails began to howl as the wind came full force with a vengeance, and both Glorfindel and Erestor braced themselves and held the ropes firmly. Their sodden clothing and damp hair whipped violently around them in the raging storm, and they gritted their teeth as the rain continued to pelt them, stinging their eyes like hundreds of tiny needles. Again, the ship jolted, and with the sharp jostle also came the tearing of a sail.
The ship began to rock dangerously then, and Glorfindel watched from a distance as Elrond attempted to steady it, with no such luck, and now he was completely certain the Sea had a mind of its own as the boat was pulled in one direction, unable to be stopped.
As if matters had not become difficult enough, the sky illuminated once more as they neared flashes of lightening, the number of seconds in between the strikes continually increasing.
By that time, Gandalf's mind seemed to be made up, and as he left the bow of the ship, he cried out to his companions. "Leave the ship to steer herself, Ulmo will guide her! Get inside, now!"
Hesitation masked all the Elves features, but one glance at the nearing lightening seemed to be enough for them to obey the Maia's command. As the small crew headed for the doors of the cockpit, Elrond was quick to notice the absence of one individual. In a worried frenzy, he whipped his head around to the small outlook on the top of the mast, but not noticing the figure there either, felt his heartbeat increase tenfold. A silhouette perched upon a beam suddenly caught his eye, and he bit back a worried cry as Legolas nearly slipped when he reached out to grab the torn canvas.
"Legolas," he cried, his worry turning to terror as the lightning grew ever closer. "Legolas, get down here, this instant!"
For an instant longer, the sun-kissed Elf ignored him as he finished tying a quick knot in the sail, before scrutinizing it until convinced it would hold until he grabbed hold of a rope and swiftly slid down.
Elrond glared at him disapprovingly once he had reached his side, and guided him down the stairs with a hand on his shoulder. "That was incredibly foolish," he chastised after closing the doors behind him. "Lightening could have struck you."
"My actions were for the benefit of us all," the younger Elf replied simply. "The ship might have gone astray, otherwise."
"I think not. Have you not noticed that the ship is steering in one direction only? No matter what we attempt, the ship is set on its course, and none of our actions can change that."
"That is odd," Legolas commented as he was passed a towel to dry himself. "The ship heads straight in one direction even with the waves as powerful as they are."
"It is odd," agreed the Elf lord with a nod, as he too was given a towel. "Nevertheless, that does not excuse your reckless behavior."
"I apologize, lord Elrond," the younger Elf replied for the sake of humoring the other. "It will not happen again."
As the two Elves dried themselves, a smirk passed Glorfindel's face for the second time that day. Since the destruction of Valinor, Elrond had become as a mother hen to the Mirkwood prince, and though he doubted either of them to admit it, they both took silent comfort from the relationship.
Even before this whole ordeal, the two had known each other well. Back in the days when Elves still roamed Middle-Earth, Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel had been close friends, getting into more trouble than was physically possible. The four had always seemed to be a target for trouble, coming home from orc hunts to be patched up and mended again, then afterwards would be seated side by side on one of the large beds of the infirmary with Elrond pacing before them, giving a long, heartfelt lecture.
In a way, Legolas had become to Elrond as a fourth son, and since the Elf lord had lost his children, he was, at least, grateful to still have Legolas. Even in Valinor, the two would spend time together, either over a game of chess and a cup of tea, or simply recalling times of old.
The boat suddenly jolted again, causing its occupants to stumble. Grumbling to himself, Gandalf merely sat on the smooth wooden floor, his actions being followed by the others. After a short while, Celeborn's sigh broke the silence. "What are we to do, now, Mithrandir? We are low on foodstuffs, and we have no way of replenishing our supplies."
"Aye," Legolas nodded. "And I have seen no signs of land for days."
"Our current circumstance is unfortunate," The Istari sighed. "But Iluvatar has spared us for a reason. What that reason is, I cannot tell you, for I, myself do not know. But you must have faith. Things will get better in time. All we can do is be patient and see what awaits us."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jinnder: lmao! Then point and laugh, 'cos I'm from Texas, County. LOL, no, j/k, I am from Canada, and damn well proud of it too.
Meghan: Thank you, and sorry this update took so long. Things have been a bit hectic lately.
Shining Star of Valinor: Thanks for your input, I think I will continue.
DreaminofLorien: I'm happy you're enjoying this fic, and I'm so sorry I took forever to update, I've had a lot to deal with lately. Hope you enjoy the next chapter.
LOTRFaith: Thank you, and here I am with the next update ( Again, sorry this took forever. I hope you don't decide to abandon this fic just yet.
Athena Diagon Cat: LOL, So sorry I decided to take my sweet time with this fic, I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Ch 2
Glorfindel's voice released a choked grunt as he struggled with one of the ties to the mast while the wind continued to bellow against the small ship, creating massive waves across the blue expanse of the ocean. The rain continued to pelt down hard against the small crew, as they struggled to keep the boat steady and afloat, and Elrond's seneschal was certain that the water had grown a mind of its own.
Three and a half bloody weeks they had been sailing, and none but Gandalf knew where they were headed. By now their provisions were running very low, as much as they tried to conserve them. This much was true, if they did not reach land soon and restock their rations, they would surely starve to death.
His head shot up at the crack of thunder, followed by another strike of lightening lighting up the darkened sky, bringing his attention back to the present. His elven eyes shifted to Mithrandir, whom still stood at the bow of the ship, nearly oblivious to the raging storm around them. His ancient eyes looked onward, as if drawn to something in the distance, that not even he could see in this wrathful void of wind and water. The Istar said nothing of their destination, save this; 'Iluvatar has a plan for us, do not attempt to contend against the Sea.' The old Wizard had seemed quite convinced that the Vala, Ulmo, was conveying them to their rightful destination, and said that it was futile to strive against his will.
And so the Elves obediently did as they were bid, merely concentrating on keeping the ship out of danger while the great waters carried them away. Thus was their attention drawn while they were not mourning the loss of their loved ones. They still grieved over the destruction of their home, so much had been lost, and Glorfindel, as the others had, silently wondered why they had been spared, while every other living Elf had perished. Of course, he had no right to question the will of Iluvatar or the Valar. He, himself had been resurrected from he dead, but was never certain why he had been singled out among every other person that had lost their lives in the line of duty. He had eventually accepted their choice, and had come to serve as lord Elrond's seneschal, though for years the same question still came to mind.
His eyes unconsciously shifted over to the Elf lord, who stood nobly at the wheel, his hands steady as he kept the boat steady. Glorfindel was quite surprised, at first, when the Loremaster had offered to take the helm. The thought had never occurred to him that his master knew how to steer a ship. Then again, he thought, Elrond could be very full of surprises that never ceased to amaze him.
The large oars had been abandoned prier to Gandalf's request, and so each had taken a station, doing what they could. He turned to Erestor whom was across from him, also managing the heavy mast with difficulty. It was obvious that the advisor was not accustomed to such arduous activity. Often times, the golden haired Elf would walk in to his study and find him studying scrolls or writing on feet of sheepskin, hardly spending a moment's time of relaxation. He did better behind a desk than on the wooden boards of a ship, this much was obvious. But despite the situation, Glorfindel could not contain a chuckle that he tried to hide behind his hand when a large spray of water hit the thoroughly drenched Elf, followed by an angered growl as he glared accusingly at the ocean.
Galadriel and Celeborn had relocated to the lower decks, rummaging and counting what little stock they had left, rationing it off into different piles.
The Elf lord's eyes finally drifted to the youngest Elf among them, whom was perched way up high in the small 'nest' of the mast's post. Though it was difficult to make him out against the drowning downpour and the gusts of wind, Glorfindel could easily tell that his bright eyes remained drawn to the distance, searching for something that could not be seen. Though it was obvious that the Sinda's thoughts were anywhere but the horizon.
Loss was something the young Elf had been forced to deal with from a very young age. Since the first hunts in his majority, Legolas had been forced to witness the killings as he defended his home against the threats of Dol Guldur. He had never truly seen the beauty of Greenwood, being born only after the spawn of Ungoliant infested the once majestic forest. Throughout his young life, Legolas' stern, yet loving father had done everything in his power to protect him, seldom letting him away from their borders, even after he had come of age. Thranduil had been devastated to learn that his youngest child had set out as one of the nine walkers to destroy the One Ring, and when finally he returned home, he was greeted with both chastisement and loving arms.
But never again would the young prince feel those powerful arms embrace him in greeting, nor the firm voice and the stern façade that would suddenly fall into a loving expression behind closed doors.
Legolas had been heartbroken when Aragorn had finally passed, and he was completely devastated years later in Valinor when Gimli's time had finally come millennia ago, the only thing keeping him from going mad being his mother and father's supportive presence. But no more would the Woodland king be there to comfort him.
Nay, they had all suffered losses that would take a long time to heal. After the war of the Ring, and the dominion of Man had finally come, the Elves had sailed to the Undying Lands with what life they had left in them. Even then, they had all suffered tremendously. Glorfindel clearly remembered Elrond's reaction when he had learnt of his children's choice to become mortal. It had nearly broken him, and the Elf lord had no choice but to sail for Valinor, lest his grief kill him first. He had been happy for Arwen, as difficult as it was for him to accept her choice, and he had supported Elladan and Elrohir in their decision as well, as much as he dared dissuade them, for they were inseparable, and one would not leave without the other. The Loremaster had probably lost more loved ones than any other upon this small vessel, those including even his parents and his brother, and now his beloved Celebrian, the only one he had left to live for. But there was naught that anyone could do now. They had no choice but to accept their current situation, and learn to adapt to the circumstance.
The seneschal suddenly cursed aloud as another wave crashed into the boat, spraying the already drenched Elves with more of the salty liquid, leaving them sputtering for oxygen. Not long after, Another wave slammed against the vessel, and was precisely when Elrond became worried.
Then, without warning, the sails began to howl as the wind came full force with a vengeance, and both Glorfindel and Erestor braced themselves and held the ropes firmly. Their sodden clothing and damp hair whipped violently around them in the raging storm, and they gritted their teeth as the rain continued to pelt them, stinging their eyes like hundreds of tiny needles. Again, the ship jolted, and with the sharp jostle also came the tearing of a sail.
The ship began to rock dangerously then, and Glorfindel watched from a distance as Elrond attempted to steady it, with no such luck, and now he was completely certain the Sea had a mind of its own as the boat was pulled in one direction, unable to be stopped.
As if matters had not become difficult enough, the sky illuminated once more as they neared flashes of lightening, the number of seconds in between the strikes continually increasing.
By that time, Gandalf's mind seemed to be made up, and as he left the bow of the ship, he cried out to his companions. "Leave the ship to steer herself, Ulmo will guide her! Get inside, now!"
Hesitation masked all the Elves features, but one glance at the nearing lightening seemed to be enough for them to obey the Maia's command. As the small crew headed for the doors of the cockpit, Elrond was quick to notice the absence of one individual. In a worried frenzy, he whipped his head around to the small outlook on the top of the mast, but not noticing the figure there either, felt his heartbeat increase tenfold. A silhouette perched upon a beam suddenly caught his eye, and he bit back a worried cry as Legolas nearly slipped when he reached out to grab the torn canvas.
"Legolas," he cried, his worry turning to terror as the lightning grew ever closer. "Legolas, get down here, this instant!"
For an instant longer, the sun-kissed Elf ignored him as he finished tying a quick knot in the sail, before scrutinizing it until convinced it would hold until he grabbed hold of a rope and swiftly slid down.
Elrond glared at him disapprovingly once he had reached his side, and guided him down the stairs with a hand on his shoulder. "That was incredibly foolish," he chastised after closing the doors behind him. "Lightening could have struck you."
"My actions were for the benefit of us all," the younger Elf replied simply. "The ship might have gone astray, otherwise."
"I think not. Have you not noticed that the ship is steering in one direction only? No matter what we attempt, the ship is set on its course, and none of our actions can change that."
"That is odd," Legolas commented as he was passed a towel to dry himself. "The ship heads straight in one direction even with the waves as powerful as they are."
"It is odd," agreed the Elf lord with a nod, as he too was given a towel. "Nevertheless, that does not excuse your reckless behavior."
"I apologize, lord Elrond," the younger Elf replied for the sake of humoring the other. "It will not happen again."
As the two Elves dried themselves, a smirk passed Glorfindel's face for the second time that day. Since the destruction of Valinor, Elrond had become as a mother hen to the Mirkwood prince, and though he doubted either of them to admit it, they both took silent comfort from the relationship.
Even before this whole ordeal, the two had known each other well. Back in the days when Elves still roamed Middle-Earth, Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel had been close friends, getting into more trouble than was physically possible. The four had always seemed to be a target for trouble, coming home from orc hunts to be patched up and mended again, then afterwards would be seated side by side on one of the large beds of the infirmary with Elrond pacing before them, giving a long, heartfelt lecture.
In a way, Legolas had become to Elrond as a fourth son, and since the Elf lord had lost his children, he was, at least, grateful to still have Legolas. Even in Valinor, the two would spend time together, either over a game of chess and a cup of tea, or simply recalling times of old.
The boat suddenly jolted again, causing its occupants to stumble. Grumbling to himself, Gandalf merely sat on the smooth wooden floor, his actions being followed by the others. After a short while, Celeborn's sigh broke the silence. "What are we to do, now, Mithrandir? We are low on foodstuffs, and we have no way of replenishing our supplies."
"Aye," Legolas nodded. "And I have seen no signs of land for days."
"Our current circumstance is unfortunate," The Istari sighed. "But Iluvatar has spared us for a reason. What that reason is, I cannot tell you, for I, myself do not know. But you must have faith. Things will get better in time. All we can do is be patient and see what awaits us."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Jinnder: lmao! Then point and laugh, 'cos I'm from Texas, County. LOL, no, j/k, I am from Canada, and damn well proud of it too.
Meghan: Thank you, and sorry this update took so long. Things have been a bit hectic lately.
Shining Star of Valinor: Thanks for your input, I think I will continue.
DreaminofLorien: I'm happy you're enjoying this fic, and I'm so sorry I took forever to update, I've had a lot to deal with lately. Hope you enjoy the next chapter.
LOTRFaith: Thank you, and here I am with the next update ( Again, sorry this took forever. I hope you don't decide to abandon this fic just yet.
Athena Diagon Cat: LOL, So sorry I decided to take my sweet time with this fic, I hope you enjoy this next chapter.