In this chapter, Eldarion seems to be agreeing that the bond between himself and Elboron is a soul-mate bond. It isn't but since that is the delusion that Dior and Balrant are living under, Eldarion is fighting fire with fire. Savvy? I think he explains it better.
Also, this chapter is deticated to Angel of Night Watchers. Remember the good times sweetie and as I keep saying, the ones we love never truly leave us.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
As they approached Annúminas, Eldarion became to nervous to ride Suldal. Slowing the horse to a walk, he slid from his back and after tying the reigns to the saddle pommel, he allowed the stallion to wander free. Aragorn also dismounted from Brego and shortened his reigns so that he could be led rather than ridden.
"Cub, what's wrong?" asked Aragorn. Eldarion stared at his father in amazement.
"What?" laughed Aragorn.
"I haven't been called cub since I was shot," replied Eldarion. This was almost true. Though Kalya had referred to the cradle name when they had met in Lórien's dreamscape, Eldarion was unsure how Aragorn would take the news that his twin was speaking to his children.
"Really?" asked Aragorn in surprise. Eldarion nodded.
"In answer to your question, I'm nervous to find out how much damage Dior and Balrant have caused while we have been in Rohan," said Eldarion.
"Nothing significant," replied Aragorn. "If people are unable to accept what has been Valar decreed then they are not worth associating with. As it stands, you are a popular youth and the vicious rumours from two young whelps will not hold much substance."
"Elboron assured me of the same thing," said Eldarion. "But I am still nervous."
"You will be fine," said Aragorn, wrapping an arm around Eldarion's shoulders.
"Eldarion! Ada!" cheered Faerveren as her brother and father walked up the causeway to the Palace. Eldarion grinned at his sister and kneeling down, allowed the seven-year-old to run into his arms. He wrapped her in a tight embrace and planting a kiss on her temple, before releasing her into Aragorn's care. Swinging her into one arm and leading Brego with the other, Aragorn and Eldarion made their way up the remainder of the road to where Arwen stood with Imlosiel clinging to her skirts and Culas standing to her left.
"Welcome home, my Lords," said Arwen. Eldarion raised an eyebrow at the formal greeting given by his mother.
"It is good to be back," replied Aragorn, setting Faerveren on the ground. He kissed Arwen briefly before kneeling to greet Imlosiel who leapt forward like a gazelle into her father's arms and hugged him tightly. Eldarion greeted his mother with a kiss to her cheek before Imlosiel clamoured for his attention.
"We have a visitor Estel," said Arwen motioning to her right. Aragorn looked up and caught sight of a face he had not seen in nigh on eighteen years. It was one of the last people he expected to see in Annúminas.
"Tarcil!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"My company are forcing me to take a respite from leadership," replied Tarcil. "Aided and abetted by Arahael I might add."
Aragorn chuckled as the pair clasped sword arms. "How long have you been in Annúminas?"
"A little under three weeks," replied Tarcil. Aragorn shook his head in despair.
"Arwen has been in charge hasn't she? And it is Culas that has been helping her rather than Arahael?"
"Really Aragorn, what do you take me for?" asked Arahael crossing his arms and pretending to look hurt.
"A leader who does not know when it is advisable to stop," replied Aragorn with a smile.
"Look who's talking! Don't worry Aragorn, one of the conditions Túnír set before we returned was that I was not to take up any yolk of leadership whilst Tarcil was here and Tarcil was to do the same," smiled Arahael. "Arwen and Culas have been playing their part as well. Now what have you done with the tyke you call a son?"
"I can hear you!" called Eldarion, who was still standing with Arwen. "And I could ask you the same question?" Faerveren giggled. Eldarion was about to ask what she found amusing when arms wrapped around him from behind.
"Gotcha," muttered Túnír. Eldarion swung round and embrace Túnír tightly.
"Is he always that tactile?" asked Tarcil a little surprised by Eldarion's response to Túnír's approach.
"Eldarion? He has always displayed his emotions around those he trusts," replied Aragorn. "His lack of reservation as far as physical contact is concerned stems from that."
"Aragorn, I need to speak to you," said Arahael. "Now."
"This does not sound good," commented Aragorn as Arahael led his away from the little gathering.
"It isn't. Aragorn, Dior has been spreading rumours about the city. That was part of the reason I returned," muttered Arahael.
"I expected as much. How widely are they believed?"
"Most do not believe what he has said, mainly because it is Dior who is being malicious, but there were a select few believe that Eldarion loves Elboron as though they were lovers," replied Arahael.
"Can't that family accept that they are not the model on which we are formed?" asked Aragorn, though he was mainly thinking aloud. He looked over to the small group where Eldarion had Imlosiel on his knee and was evidentially in full swing of telling a story, judging by the gestures he was making with his arms.
"Arahael, I need you and Túnír to do me a favour," requested Aragorn.
"You have but to ask."
"If Eldarion gets the feeling that he is isolated and unwanted then he will retreat into himself. Do not smother him but let him know he has the support and love of friends," requested Aragorn. Arahael nodded his head.
"I will do the best I can."
The second day back in Annúminas, Eldarion was confronted with Dior and Balrant, who had definitely turned against Eldarion.
"So how is your lover? Are you going to be making up any more excuses to see him?" asked Dior.
"I explained to you before that at fourteen, it is very unlikely that I have a lover," replied Eldarion.
"Do tell us how your father would react to finding his son, his heir, has a soul-mate who is another male," said Balrant. Eldarion grinned, taking the two aback.
"He knows," replied the Prince. Túnír's eyebrow took a hasty trip to his hairline while Dior and Balrant looked nothing short of horrified. "And he doesn't care," continued Eldarion, returning his attention to the sword and whet stone in his hands. Dior and Balrant stared at Eldarion as though he was a fascinating creature they had discovered.
"What are you doing?" hissed Túnír.
"They want to believe that it is a soul-mate bond and I will not stop them from believing that. If I act as though it doesn't bother me then they will stop tormenting me with the knowledge," replied Eldarion. Túnír worried his bottom lip and Eldarion lay down his sword.
"If I stop retaliating to what they say, then they will cease to have any ammunition to fire," explained Eldarion, his eyes begging Túnír not to cast him aside as well. Túnír noticed the glint in Eldarion's silver eyes and nodded.
"You are of the Eldar, you are bound to have gifts which we do not," replied Túnír. "From what you say, you had this when I met you initially anyway."
His reply was a smile and together the two turned to face Dior and Balrant who were still looking dumbstruck.
"You'll start to swallow flies if you don't close you mouths," warned Eldarion before picking up his sword again and presenting a challenge to Túnír.
Annúminas, October 9th, FA17
Eldarion was practically bouncing in excitement and to an onlooker, it would not seem like he was about to turn sixteen. He was sitting on the battlements watching the main road leading to the city. Túnír was beside him, under strict instructions from his father that he was to "prevent Eldarion doing anything rash."
"What is taking them so long?" asked Eldarion, turning to face his friend.
"It is only two and half hours after dawn," replied Túnír resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "And today is only an estimated date for their arrival. Eldarion would you get down from there?"
"Haldir doesn't give estimates," replied Eldarion, not removing himself from the ledge he was sitting on and turning his attention back to the road. "It is part of his job to be accurate."
"Not even an Elf would be able to tell what lies ahead on a road," replied Túnír resting his arms on the parapet. Eldarion ignored the comment. Ten minutes later he gave a yelp and scrambled off his perch.
"Eldarion what…."
"I can see them," replied Eldarion. Túnír turned his attention to the road and a cloud of dust caught his eye.
"How do you know that is the party we are waiting for?" he asked.
"Are we expecting anyone else in Annúminas?"
"Not that I am aware of but you would be more privy to such details," replied Túnír. He groaned as Eldarion tugged on his arm.
"No one would think you were about to be sixteen," he said. Eldarion shrugged and continued to pull his friend behind him.
By the time Eldarion and Túnír arrived at the Gate, a group of six horses was visible and their riders clearly discernable. Túnír was contemplating tying his friend to the stable door if he refused to stop his continual exuberance, when the first pair of riders passed through the gates.
'Glorfindel!' cried Eldarion and threw himself at the leader once he had dismounted. The Vanya laughed and caught the energetic youth in his arms.
'Gen suilon, Eldarion,' smiled the golden-warrior. Eldarion grinned before turning his attention to the Imladrian twins. I greet you, Eldarion
'Uncle Elrohir, Uncle Elladan,' he smiled, hugging both in turn.
'Mae govannen Eldarion,' bowed Elladan. Elrohir inclined his head in greeting. Celeborn and Rúmil received an equally calm greeting but then Eldarion leapt towards Haldir as though he were a gazelle. Haldir caught the youth in his arms and hugged him tightly, depositing a kiss on the raven hair which seemed to decide that it liked being curls and had retained the youthful style. well met, Eldarion
Túnír felt distinctly out of place in this party of Elves. Though Eldarion was also human, he spoke their language and, if he kept his ears hidden, could pass for one of their kind. Túnír however, did not understand the greetings and his stockier build made it very obvious that it was human blood that flowed through his veins. In short he felt completely out of his depth. Eldarion finally released Haldir and returned to Túnír's side.
"My Lords, may I introduce Túnír, son of Arahael. Túnír, this is Lord Celeborn of Lothlórien, my mother's grandfather. Beside him is Marshal Rúmil. This pair are Elladan and Elrohir of Imladris, my uncles and beside them is Lord Glorfindel. And this is Marshal Haldir of Lothlórien, my guardian," said Eldarion, dealing with the formalities. As each Elf was introduced he gave the Annúminas youth the traditional greeting of the Elves to which Túnír inclined his head. It should have come of no surprise that Eldarion felt confident among the Elves, but to have him throw himself at lords of the people was not something Túnír expected Eldarion to do. He always seemed to have some level of decorum when surrounded by noblemen. He shifted uncomfortably as Eldarion seemed to have thrown manners to the dogs. Celeborn smiled at him gently.
"You have never met any of our people before have you?" he said in a lilting voice. Túnír shook his head, seemingly to entranced to speak.
"Do not be afraid," said Celeborn. Túnír swallowed and nodded. Eldarion smiled at him and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
"Come. Ada will be wanting to know that our guests have arrived," he said and steered Túnír in the direction of the Palace.
Aragorn, it turned out, already knew that the company had arrived and was standing on the steps to the Palace, ready to greet his guests.
'Welcome to Annúminas, my Lords,' he greeted with a incline of the head and a hand over his heart.
'I hate it when he calls us that,' muttered Elladan as the Elves returned the gesture. 'Makes me feel old.'
'It makes you feel old?' shot back Rúmil.
'Boys!' hissed Haldir. Elladan and Rúmil glared at him while Eldarion laughed at the admonishment, causing Túnír to stare at him.
"What did he say?" he whispered.
"Elladan doesn't like it when Ada calls him 'my Lord' saying that it makes him feel old. Rúmil is younger than him so has even more right to object. Haldir is the older than either of them and just called them 'boys'," translated Eldarion.
"Oh," replied Túnír. He swung round when a squeal sounded from the archway above them. Faerveren came chasing out of the door and straight at Elrohir who caught her to his chest.
"And how are you, pen dithen?" asked Elrohir. little one
"I am fine," replied Faerveren. "Nana is excited to see you."
"And what about Imlosiel?"
"She doesn't remember you," murmured Faerveren, a little apologetically.
"It has been two years," agreed Elrohir.
"It appears we have a task to accomplish then," smiled Elladan. Faerveren nodded, looking slightly relieved.
"Come, Arwen is in the orchard," said Aragorn, falling in beside Celeborn. Rúmil, Elladan and Haldir were currently bickering over Haldir's use of the word 'boys' while Elrohir and Faerveren were talking nineteen-to-the dozen. Glorfindel fell into step beside Eldarion and was instantly drawn into a conversation concerning the goings on in Imladris. While normally such a conversation would have occurred in Sindarin, Eldarion deliberately spoke Westron to allow Túnír to follow what was being said.
The following morning, Eldarion was not to be found in the city. Aragorn was not concerned about his son's disappearance, Eldarion having vanished the morning of his previous Birth Day, Elboron's Birth Day and the anniversary of Kalya's death. Haldir was not so inclined to accept Eldarion's conspicuous absence and neither was Glorfindel.
"Where is he?" demanded the younger of the two Elves.
"Shore of Lake Evendim most likely," replied Aragorn. "Haldir please, there is nothing to worry about. He will reappear around noon."
"I'm going after him," decided Haldir, standing up from the breakfast table. Aragorn knew better than to attempt to talk Haldir out of his decision and nodded.
"The Lake is north-west from here," he said. Haldir and Glorfindel bid good morning to their companions and headed for the Lake.
"Eldarion?" asked Haldir as they came into sight of the Lake. Eldarion was again conspicuous by his absence but Suldal was grazing by the Lakeside so it was evident that the Prince was somewhere nearby.
"Suldal where is Eldarion?" Haldir asked of the animal. Suldal, slightly peeved at having his breakfast interrupted, tossed his head to the middle of the Lake where the two Elves could detect a body floating in the water.
"What is he doing?" asked Glorfindel, arching an eyebrow.
"The only way we are going to know that is by joining him," replied Haldir, kicking off his boots and stripping down to his leggings. Glorfindel 'hmmed' in agreement and copied Haldir's example. Suldal snorted in exasperation at the two who had just abandoned their clothing on top of the patch sweet shoots he was about to eat.
"What are you doing out here?" asked Haldir as he tread the water beside Eldarion.
"It is peaceful," replied Eldarion. "I come out here to meditate."
"Isn't that easier on the shore?" asked Glorfindel. Eldarion tucked before shaking his head, sending water droplets in every direction.
"The tidal action of the water helps. Haldir don't look so panicked, I have been doing it since a year past April."
"Dare I ask why?" asked Haldir, cringing a little. The last time he had seen Eldarion in the water, the youth had been unable to swim and thanks to the actions of his nephew, had nearly drowned! He couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"It helps me feel Elboron," replied Eldarion. "I feel a lot happier during the day if I know that he is safe and well."
"How far has your bond developed?" asked Glorfindel. The speed with which the bond between Eldarion and Elboron was developing was unprecedented but Glorfindel had notched it up to the fact that both were mortal and time past differently for them that it did one of the Eldar.
"I feel his strong emotions but I get a little warning before our mental barriers collapse. We can also reduce the barriers voluntarily to allow the passage of any emotion, though we've only done that once," replied Eldarion. "Can we return to the shore? My legs are beginning to feel a little tired."
"Of course." Together the three swam back to where Suldal had settled himself on the ground in order to digest his breakfast, purposefully resting atop Haldir's shirt.
"How have you coped being separated from Elboron?" asked Haldir.
"I miss his physical presence," replied Eldarion, pulling his tunic over his head. "But Faerlain is a asset in communication between us and Lórien allows us to meet in our dreams, though that is not very often. He said we needed to learn how to cope without each other being there all the time. Suldal, give Haldir back his shirt."
"You have spoken to the Valar of dreams?" asked Glorfindel in amazement, almost laughing at the innocent expression Suldal gave Eldarion when he was spoken to. Glorfindel himself had met the younger brother of the Doomsman of the Valar during his stay in the Eternal Halls and had found him likable enough, if a little sprightly in nature.
"Why is that such a surprise?" asked Eldarion as he settle himself against Haldir's bare chest, Suldal having refused point blank to return the March-Warden's shirt. Where people got the idea of the Lothlórien March-Warden being aloof and unfeeling, Eldarion would never know. Haldir reciprocated the gesture by wrapping his arms around his charge.
"The Valar appear to very few people, be they Eldar or otherwise," replied Glorfindel. "Námo appears to guide your spirit to the next realm but normally the rest simply carry out their appointed tasks without revealing themselves."
"Should I be gratified or worried?" asked Eldarion.
"Lórien is mainly harmless, unless you end up on the wrong end of his impish humour. If Námo or Manwë begin to appear for no apparent reason then you being to get a little nervous," replied Glorfindel.
"Getting back to the matter in hand, why do you leave Annúminas to meditate?" asked Haldir.
"Because the city reminds me that what I have is not fully accepted," replied Eldarion with a sigh. "I collapsed a year and a half ago when Elboron was injured and I decided to tell the four that had been with me when collapsed about the bond. Túnír and his father accepted it but the other two saw it as unnatural simply because it is formed between two males. They also refuse to see it as anything other than a soul-mate. Out here, there is no one to judge me or it."
"That makes sense," said Haldir, tightening his embrace and pressing him to his chest. "But you have guests and they will all accept you for who you are."
Eldarion grasped Haldir's forearm in thanks while smiling at Glorfindel.