CHAPTER TWELVE
Two weeks later the company found themselves on the borders of Imladris. Just as Haldir had recognised his land simply by the feel, so Glorfindel did upon crossing the Imladris borders. Eldarion and Elboron were as intrigued with the valley as they had been the Golden Wood though it wouldn't be exaggerating to say that Eldarion was even more anxious to get to the Last Homely House than he had been to Caras Galadhon. This was where his parents and Kalya had grown up and he was finally going to see the land he has heard so much about.
"Boys calm down," laughed Celeborn as Eldarion and Elboron twisted in their saddles and their steeds began to get a little annoyed by the continually shift in balance. "The valley has been here for thousands of years, it is not going anywhere soon."
"It's huge!" exclaimed Eldarion as they came into full view of the valley, the Last Homely House standing proudly in the centre.
"Pretty," was Faerveren's analysis of the scene before them.
"And here comes our welcome committee," smiled Aragorn as two riders rode up the path to meet them. "You could have waited until we reached the courtyard!"
The two riders pulled up in front of the company and one immediately leapt off his horse and pulled Aragorn off Brego's back.
" 'Ro!" exclaimed Aragorn as he found himself in a crushing embrace.
"We haven't seen you in three years and the only greeting we get is 'you could have waited in the courtyard'!" said the mounted Elf. Aragorn shrugged and tried to move out of Elrohir's embrace.
"I need to breathe 'Ro!"
"Well I must say, your adopted brother gets more of a welcome than your own flesh and blood," groused Arwen, though the grin she was wearing gave away her true feelings on the situation.
"It appears we have upset the Lady Arwen, muindor nîn," smiled Elladan, who was still mounted on his chestnut stallion. my brother
"You want pulled off your horse?" asked Elrohir. "Didn't you threatened to harm us the next time either of us tried something like that?"
"Because I was carrying Eldarion!" said Arwen. Elrohir grinned and moved towards Arwen.
"Don't you dare," warned Aragorn as he shortened Brego's rein so that he could lead the animal rather than ride him.
"I can't win!" said Elrohir, throwing his hand up. Faerveren giggled, as did the boys. Elrohir froze, his arms still raised above his head and stared at the toddler in the saddle with Arwen. He turned to Aragorn with a raised eyebrow.
"And who's this little lady?" he asked.
"Faerveren. She's your niece, born two years last November," replied Aragorn. "I did send a missive."
"After we had pulled him back down from the ceiling," smiled Faramir.
"Ah yes, I remember. Erestor saw a reason for a celebration," replied Elrohir as the company began to move.
"Erestor?" questioned Aragorn "I would have expected that from Glorfindel…." said Elf 'harrumphed' in complaint "….but not from our stoic Councillor! What have you two done to him?"
"Estel, you wound us with such accusations!" protested Elladan. "We have done nothing to our beloved Councillor." Glorfindel and Aragorn snorted and Celeborn raised an eyebrow.
"So now he is throwing parties when the guest of honour isn't even there?" asked Aragorn.
"Well, I made the suggestion just to see how he would react. As you can tell, it wasn't in the way I expected," said Elladan in his defence.
"There you are!" exclaimed a harassed looking Erestor when the group of travellers arrived in the courtyard. "You haven't seen your family in three years, surely a few more minutes would have not made any difference?"
"I told you we hadn't done anything," muttered Elrohir. Aragorn smiled and took Faerveren as Arwen dismounted.
"Mae govannen, King Elessar, Lord Celeborn. Welcome once again to Imladris," said Erestor, bowing to the two Lords. Both greeted him with the traditional salutation of the Elves, Aragorn with a little difficulty as Faerveren was still in his arms.
"Lady Arwen. It is wonderful to have you back in Imladris again," Erestor bowed to Arwen and planted a kiss on the back of her hand.
"It is good to be back in the Valley, if only for a little while," smiled Arwen.
"Erestor, may I introduce Lord Faramir and Lady Éowyn of Ithilien and their son Elboron," said Aragorn. Erestor greeted each with a bow, and kissed the back of Éowyn's hand as well.
"Ah, it is our little city guide," said Erestor as he turned to Elboron. Elboron nodded before greeting Erestor in the same manner Aragorn had.
"You've already met Eldarion, and this is Lady Faerveren, the latest addition to the Telcontar household."
"My Prince, Lady," acknowledged Erestor. Elladan and Elrohir as impatient with formalities as usual appeared in front of Erestor.
"Right. As I am sure you are weary from your travel, allow us to show you to your rooms," said Elladan. "Daerada, you are in the same rooms as you used the last time you were here, Estel your rooms are also the same. Faramir you are in Ada's former chambers…don't argue, they've been empty for three years…eh, Eldarion you're in the room beside Estel while Elboron you are across the corridor beside Elrohir. Faerveren, do you mind sharing with Nana and Ada?" Grandfather
Faerveren shook her head. "Do it at home," she said.
"Well, that seemed to be simply enough. Don't know what Erestor was getting in a panic about," smiled Elrohir. "Now, King Thranduil will be arriving within the week and will be inhabiting the chambers next to you Estel, Samwise will be arriving from The Shire with his family and will be staying in the corridor adjoining. Gimli and Legolas will be arriving at some point, though at the moment they are touring the Glittering Caves in Rohan again. Some of Gimli's people are coming, not sure where they are staying. I know I have forgotten someone…" Elrohir turned to Elladan and found everyone to be staring at him. "What?"
"Erestor might not have changed but you certainly have," said Aragorn in amazement. "You were never able to rattle off that sort of information when I lived here."
"Didn't have to," muttered Elrohir, going slightly red. "I just showed people to their rooms if it was needed. Ada and Erestor would rattle off the information."
"You haven't changed that much," smiled Elladan, wrapping an arm around Elrohir's shoulders. "It's just a little disconcerting when you start doing something like that. Now, the guests you have forgotten are the Rangers who still dwell in the North."
"Ah, yes. It's not quite been decided where they are staying. Well, we shall leave you to your rest. The bell will ring when dinner is ready. Feel free to wander the corridors and gardens. Imladris is your home for the next few weeks, please treat it as such."
"So what do you think of Imladris so far?" asked Glorfindel. He had been wandering through the gardens inhaling the familiar scent of Imladris, occasionally stopping to have the odd conversation with a tree (something Eldarion and Elboron found hilarious) when his peace and quiet had been disturbed by boisterous behaviour of Eldarion and Elboron who had been chasing each other around a clearing. Elboron stopped to reply but Eldarion didn't and collided with his friend causing them both to tumble. Elboron yelped as he was toppled while Eldarion laughed. Grinning at his friend Eldarion sat up and turned to Glorfindel, who was leaning against a tree.
"It's different."
"Is that all you have to say about the most beautiful place in Arda?" asked Glorfindel in mock disapproval.
"You're biased," Elboron told the golden-Elf as he shoved Eldarion off his legs. "It seems more cheerful than Lórien. Brighter."
"That will be the lack of foliage to block out the sun," responded Glorfindel. "Would you like a tour?" The boys eyes grew, if it was possible, brighter.
"Really?" asked Eldarion.
"I wouldn't have offered if I was serious," said Glorfindel with a smile. Eldarion and Elboron scrambled to their feet and were quickly at Glorfindel's side. The Elf laughed.
"I'll take that as a yes. Now where to begin."
As they moved along path and through clearing, Glorfindel told them tales of Imladris. About how Elrond had established it in the Second Age after Eregion had been destroyed. About how it was the one place in all of Middle Earth which had not been touched by the evil of Sauron, though he had tried desperately to make it so.
"Who's that?" asked Eldarion. They had reached the glade where the memorial statue to the late Gilraen sat.
"Gilraen. Your grandmother," said Glorfindel.
"She looks so sad," murmured Eldarion as he moved closer to the statue.
"She did not come to Imladris under happy circumstances," said Glorfindel. "Her husband had just been killed, leaving her alone to care for the twins."
"But she wasn't alone. Daerada helped her," protested Eldarion.
"I know that, but you know how hard it is to replace a loved one. Gilraen loved Arathorn deeply, though they had not been married long. It was only for the little ones that she fought her grief." Eldarion and Elboron giggled. "Something amusing?" asked Glorfindel, cocking his head to one side.
"Ada's not little!" replied Eldarion. "Neither was Kalya."
"When they first arrived in Imladris, they were no older than Faerveren."
"Oh. She is little," smiled Eldarion. "At least the Lady is happy now."
"You have an optimistic outlook on death, Eldarion. But yes, I should think that she is happy in the Eternal Halls. Come, I want to show you the waterfall."
By the time the dinner bell rang, Eldarion and Elboron were starving but rather than being grumpy and tired, they were both hyper-active. This of course meant they were exuberant and louder than normal at the dinner table, something which made Aragorn turn to his former tutor with both eyebrows raised.
"What did you do to them?" he asked.
"Nothing! I only showed them around some of the gardens and took them to see the waterfall."
"That doesn't explain why they are swinging from the rafters," said Arwen.
"In Lórien they were training, here they have been given almost complete run of the place," shrugged Glorfindel. "How do you expect them to react? Give them a few days and they have calmed down."
"That is not likely," smiled Aragorn.
"What do you think of our home so far?" asked Elrohir.
"Brighter than Lórien," said Eldarion.
"That's my answer!" exclaimed Elboron. Eldarion simply grinned.
"Lot more Elves," continued Eldarion.
"It used to be a lot more crowded," said Elladan, slightly mournfully. "Many left with Ada three years ago." Eldarion looked up worriedly.
"You're not leaving soon are you?" he asked. Elladan quickly shook his head and glanced at Aragorn and Arwen in concern.
"Haldir gave him a fright six weeks ago. He's feeling a little possessive of his family at the moment."
"You, gwador nîn have some explaining to do," muttered Elrohir. "Now however, I think Lindir wants to perform his new composition in the Hall of Fire." my brother
Response to Reviewers;
IwishChan; Most definitely. Trouble is attracted to them like a magnet.
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Nolitari Got Irish blood too. I'm a right mongrel with English blood in the mix as well. (shrugs) Eh, computer and water doesn't really mix. Chaos might erupt at some point, especially with Thranduil and the Dwarves in the same place.
Haldir's Heart and Soul; Sorry, I just wasn't overly confident with the last chapter. And yes, reviews (especially positive ones) give me incentive to write. Thank you.
The Lady of Light; Have been official told off for my lack of self-confidence. I like adding a few surprises ever now and again. Keeps things interesting.
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