CHAPTER TWENTY
The Gondorians stayed in Imladris for the next week whilst waiting for Eldarion to have his stitches removed. During that time, Glorfindel had decided to live up to the promise he had made and began to the teach Eldarion and Elboron how to control their bond. So far it only betrayed itself when Eldarion had been hurt and Glorfindel had the distinct impression that neither of their families would be at all impressed to find that Glorfindel had purposely hurt either boy in order to see if the mental barriers were effective.
"The only thing I can suggest, that I would get away with, is for you work on developing a barrier within your mind, surrounded mainly around your emotions. Concentrate on suppressing them."
Glorfindel might as well have asked the boys to fly! Growing up, they had been taught that there was no harm in showing emotion and that they were signs of strength. The wrong emotion demonstrated at the wrong time could get them into trouble but most of the time they were accepted and encouraged. As a result Glorfindel resorted to a different technique.
"Do you remember, and please say that you do, the meditation techniques that Rúmil taught you?"
"Which one?" asked Eldarion as he sat cross-legged in the middle of a patch of daisies.
"Where he taught you how control your tempers," replied Glorfindel. Eldarion and Elboron frowned deeply. Neither of them had appreciated that lesson and it was not one that Rúmil had repeated often. Haldir, thankfully had not be present at those particular sessions otherwise things might have turned a little ugly.
With the main source of their aggression coming from hearing insults about Kalya, Rúmil had (with prior permission from Celeborn, Haldir and Aragorn) spent an afternoon bombarding the two with derogatory comments about the Princess. Tathar had found it amusing to watch the pair attempt not to strangle Rúmil and had managed to land himself in more hot water with his father and a few impressive bruises from when Eldarion and Elboron had taken out their rising frustration on him. It had taken Eldarion and Elboron until the last afternoon before they were due to leave to stop reacting to what Rúmil was saying, reminding themselves of the Kalya they had known.
"How will that help?" asked Elboron.
"How did you stop yourselves from reacting to the words thrown in your direction?" asked Glorfindel.
"By concentrating on something else," said Eldarion. He had his arms folded across his chest in a gesture that Glorfindel recognised as great displeasure. Eldarion it appeared had not been at all impressed with the tactic Rúmil had employed, nor the retrieval of the memory of the sessions.
"Precisely. This is going to sound rather odd, and seemingly impossible, but in order to shield your emotions, particularly pain and anger from one another, you must learn to concentrate on something else. If not, then the other will feel echoes of the emotion, the strength of which depending upon how close you are."
The real test for their newly taught skill was when Eldarion was due to have his stitches removed. It was unlikely that the procedure would cause Eldarion any pain, but to have the thread pulled from his skin which had sealed around it would definitely be uncomfortable. Eldarion lay on the bed in the healing wing with Elboron sitting beside him and Elrohir on his knees, a small knife in his hand.
"Let's see if you can go home soon," said Elrohir as he gently slid the knife under the first stitch and snapped the thread.
The actual snapping of the stitches caused little discomfort due to the natural elasticity of the skin of the stomach but when Elrohir used a pair of tweezers to pull the thread out of the sealed skin, Eldarion flinched and tried to move away. He closed his eyes and found himself back in the glade where he had met Lórien, though this time, he knew for sure that he was not unconscious. As the Vala had stated, he felt safe within the glade and almost immediately the feeling of discomfort subsided.
"Are you still with us, pen dithen?" asked Elrohir and Eldarion could hear the amusement in his voice. little one
"Yes," replied Eldarion though he refused to open his eyes.
"I do believe our trial was a success," said Elrohir as Elboron flopped down on the bed beside Eldarion. Eldarion's eyes shot open.
"It was?" He rolled over to face Elboron. "You didn't feel anything?"
"Not a thing once you closed your eyes," said Elboron. "Where were you? You were wearing that smile you have when you are daydreaming."
"I do not daydream. Girls daydream, I don't!" protested Eldarion. Elrohir chuckled as he threw the scraps of thread into the waste and returned the knife and tweezers to his kit.
"But where were you?" asked Elboron.
"My glade," was the only explanation Eldarion offered, curling up on his recently treated side only to flinch and quickly roll back on to his back.
"That side will still be tender for a few more days but it is just minor bruising. Avoid sleeping that way for a few days and it will heal. As of now, you are free to run rampage around Imladris, just do not destroy the place," said Elrohir. Eldarion and Elboron cheered and tore out of the room, all ready laughing and calling after each other.
By midmorning, Eldarion and Elboron had managed to convince Elladan and Glorfindel to take them back to the glade of the flowers, where Eldarion had encountered the foxes. Elboron was still a little green at the thought of Eldarion have met twelve of the creatures when he had yet to see one when they were native to his home forest. Realising that it could take a while for the animals to appear, especially since Elboron was exuding enthusiasm until it was almost tangible, the Elves had insisted on a detour to the Kitchens to gather food.
"Are you not going to tell Elrohir, Estel or Erestor that we are going?" asked Glorfindel.
"Do you think me total incapable?" retorted Elladan with a smile as he swung onto Rochvul's back and took Eldarion in front of him. "Erestor practically begged me to find something for them to do. I ran into Estel when I went to find them."
"Oh? Have you two been making a racket outside his office?" asked Glorfindel, setting Elboron on Asfaloth before climbing up himself.
"Uncle Elrohir said that we could run rampage around Imladris…." began Eldarion.
"….but we weren't to destroy the place…." continued Elboron.
"This Valley has seen off the forces of darkness since the days of the Last Alliance," said Glorfindel. "It will take more than two children to destroy it."
"You would be surprised," smiled Éowyn as she appeared in the stable with Faramir. The White Lady of Rohan had gone through a startling change during her time with the Elves. She was still shy around those that she did not know, but she was comfortable enough with Glorfindel, the twins, Lindir and a few other members of the household to tease them when she felt the urge. Faramir had managed to settle down, it having been pointed out to him that his over enthusiastic approach to the Elves was bordering on annoyance to many of the older Elves who still dwelt in the Valley.
"They can not be as bad as the twins," replied Glorfindel.
"Which set?" asked Faramir. The assembled company laughed at the indignant look that settled on Elladan's features.
"True. I am afraid Kalya and Estel were greatly influenced in the time they spent here," agreed Glorfindel. Elboron fidgeted in front of Glorfindel which was causing Asfaloth to paw at the ground.
"I think we had best be off," commented Elladan. "We shall have them back for dinner." The darker Elf turned Rochvul and cantered out of the Gateway, heading for the glade, a spluttering Glorfindel cantering behind.
It was almost as if the forest sensed Eldarion's return. Once they were on the path leading to the glade a blackbird began to sing and other animals began to sneak out from the trees and undergrowth.
"What did you do to them?" asked Elladan, in a whisper as a squirrel scrambled along a branch above their heads.
"I didn't," replied Eldarion as confused by the reaction to their presence as Elladan and Glorfindel. Elboron however was twisting his neck in ever direction and position possible. Asfaloth tossed his head in frustration at the continual shift in balance and Glorfindel rested a hand on Elboron's shoulder to stay the boy.
"Asfaloth will throw you off if you don't sit still," he warned. Elboron hastily took hold of one of Asfaloth's reigns and lent against Glorfindel's chest.
"This is it," said Eldarion suddenly and Elladan reigned Rochvul to a halt. Eldarion scrambled off the horse and moved over to the Oak. Elboron had been taken off Asfaloth and he joined his friend.
"Sit down," whispered Eldarion, tugging at Elboron's hand and together they shaped around the base of the tree.
A sharp, high-pitched bark sounded through the trees in front of them, followed by a flash of copper. A louder bark was heard and a larger flash of copper seen. Suddenly a small creature shot out from the undergrowth and flew at Eldarion. Elboron squeaked as the creature pounced on his friend. He didn't move but stared transfixed as the cub licked Eldarion's wrist and scrambled up his chest to lick his neck. The loud bark sounded again, this time sounding annoyed. The cub stilled its movements and curled on the forest floor beside Eldarion as the vixen appeared from the undergrowth. Glorfindel and Elladan were sitting stock-still watching as Eldarion interacted with the animals, Elladan's jaw hanging loose while Glorfindel smiled gently. At the sound of a growl, the cub stood up and traipsed over to his mother, his tail hanging low and his head bowed. He offered a yip in explanation but it appeared that the vixen was not impressed as she gave the cub a sharp butt with her head. Eldarion and Elboron sat perfectly still watching the chastisement. It didn't seem to severe because a couple of minutes later, the cub was nudged back in Eldarion direction, to be followed by another, whilst the vixen and the other two cubs settled down to watch.
It was an emotionally departure two mornings later. Glorfindel and (though he would not admit it to anyone) Erestor had enjoyed having Aragorn and Arwen back in Imladris again. The presence of Eldarion, Elboron and Faerveren had made it impossible for even the most stoic of the Elves not to smile at their innocence which had long been missed in the Valley. In turn, none of the company were particularly keen on returning to the hustle-and-bustle of Gondor where free-spiritedness and impropriety was put aside for duty more than was healthy.
"Do not wait three years before we see you again, gwador nîn," said Elladan as he hugged Aragorn. my bother
"I'll try not to," replied Aragorn with a small smile. "Maybe you should come an celebrate Yuletide with us next year."
"That sounds like a very good idea," said Elrohir as he appeared beside Elladan.
"Then it is agreed," said Aragorn and hugged Elrohir before mounting Brego. After giving the farewell salutation of the Elves he turned Brego and led his company out of the courtyard and along the path leading up and out of the Imladris.
"I Anor sílatha na râd gîn, pin dithin" said Glorfindel, a gently breeze capturing his words and sending them after the party. The three Elves beside him nodded in agreement before departing back to the house as the Edain train disappeared over the ridge of the Valley. May the Sun shine upon you path, little ones