Chapter Two: The Celebration Begins
Elrond practically skipped back to where Lórien and Mandos were calmly awaiting his return. He had never before felt so alive! This was like a wonderful dream – but certainly nothing in the wildest reaches of his mind could compare to it.
The half-elf composed himself swiftly as he came before the waiting Valar, and with a bow related what had occurred in his parents' house.
"Well done," Lórien smiled, once he had finished. "You are your own godfather? Most unusual."
"But most helpful," said Mandos pointedly. "For as godfather to himself and his brother, Elrond will be required to be near them, should his parents run into any… difficulty."
Elrond couldn't help but shudder, for he knew exactly what the Doomsman was talking about. He quickly changed the subject.
"My lords, it is my father's request that the three of us attend a feast tonight in his house, in honour of El— I mean, my birth, and my brother's. It will be at six this evening, if you are interested…"
The two brothers gazed pensively at each other, seemingly conversing through a complex series of eyebrow-movements. Elrond was secretly impressed.
Mandos finally nodded slowly, the color of his darkly shimmering eyes shifting from deepest green to purplish blue and back again. "Perhaps we could make time. What say you?" he asked, turning to his brother.
The Master of Dreams nodded as well. "I agree," he said. "But it is nearly ten hours until then. For now, Elrond, we bid you farewell, and fair fortune."
"Thank you, my lords," Elrond replied with a bow. "Farewell, until tonight."
"Until tonight," the Fëanturi echoed. Then in a swirl of grey and almost-black, the Valar were gone.
----
When Elrond returned to his parents' home, it was abuzz with jubilation; apparently word of him had spread, for he was set upon by a dozen curious elves before even crossing the threshold.
Every one seemed keen to turn him blue in the face from answering questions, but all he could do was stutter oddly between barrages. At last Eärendil came to his rescue.
"Enough!" he cried, laughing. "Let him by! You will hear the full tale later tonight." The elf's tone held a silent request to Elrond: You will tell it, won't you?
The half-elf nodded, answering his father aloud. "Of course."
Eärendil smiled and nodded appreciatively, then turned as Elwing came softly up behind him, smiling briefly at her husband before addressing Elrond. "Master Elrond, I wish to speak with you."
"Of what, M—my lady?" Elrond caught himself just in time to keep the word Mother from escaping him. He didn't dare slip up.
"Of you," she replied. "I don't remember seeing you anywhere in Sirion before. Are you a newcomer here?"
Elrond nodded. "Yes, my lady, I am. I come from a land very far from here, in the west foothills of the Hithaeglin." (the Misty Mountains)
"Have you been here long?" Elwing asked.
"No, my lady. I had only just arrived when your husband…" the elf nodded briefly to Eärendil, "…found me and brought me here. In fact, I was rather lost."
His mother nodded, and Eärendil then spoke to him questioningly. "So you have no other lodgings?"
Elrond shook his head. "No, my lord." Father, he thought, refusing to let his pain show itself in his eyes. He was face-to-face with his parents, and couldn't even address them as such!
"I see." Eärendil stroked his chin pensively. "In that case, you are more than welcome to stay here, for as long as you will."
Elrond smiled. "Thank you, sire, I will indeed. By the way," he added, "I've spoken with my comrades, and they both agreed to join the celebration tonight."
"Excellent," said his father. "Be sure to point them out when they arrive."
----
The rest of the day passed in a whirl. Elrond aided his parents dutifully in caring for the newborn twins; while Elwing handled the feeding, he and Eärendil caringly settled the infants down for naps and changed soiled linens.
At ten minutes to six, Elrond found himself looking around for any signs of Lórien and Mandos' arrival. Would they announce their presence boldly, or just slip subtly in?
"Master Elrond…" The voice stirred him gently from his musings. A young elleth was beckoning to him. Elrond couldn't help but notice her vivid, flame-coloured hair. "The feast is beginning shortly, sir."
Elrond nodded, glancing nonchalantly out of the nearest window as he passed it. By the sun, it was very close to six.
Maybe they just want to be perfectly on time, Elrond assured himself. It wouldn't be at all surprising.
The elleth led him to the banquet hall; it was packed with elves, both guests and servants. Many long tables filled the chamber, at which the guests sat and around which servants crept meekly.
Overseeing the goings-on were Eärendil and Elwing. They smiled and nodded to Elrond as he entered; his mother summoned him to a chair by her side before addressing him.
"Have your friends arrived yet?" she asked. "It's nearly time."
Elrond dutifully scanned the hall, seeing no sign of either Lórien or Mandos. Were they busy? Was someone dead, or perhaps dreaming?
"They don't seem to be here, my lady," he told Elwing. "But I'm sure they will be soon."
Elwing frowned slightly at him. "If they plan to arrive at precisely six, that gives them about one -and-a-half minutes."
Elrond nodded silently, beginning a mute countdown from ninety. Eighty-nine, eighty-eight, eighty-seven…
"Esteemed guests," said Eärendil, rising. "I am most pleased to announce that today is a day of great cause for revelry. Today is the birthday of my twin sons, Elrond and Elros."
A cheer arose from the seated elves. Eärendil waited for it to fade before he spoke again. "It is also my honour to introduce to you, the elf without whom this would not have been possible – Master Elrond, if you would stand…"
He did, to tumultuous applause from the onlookers. Feeling his ears reddening, he cleared his throat and began, "Lord Eärendil has requested that I relate the story of how I aided Lady Elwing in bringing her children into the world. And so I shall.
"I had just arrived in Sirion after journeying from the northeast, when Lord Eärendil told me that Lady Elwing was having twins when only one child had been expected. When we reached her, it was clear that…"
He broke off as he realized his countdown had reached zero. In the same moment, there was a voice.
"Forgive the interruption… we are not tardy, I hope?"
A hundred pairs of eyes became riveted on the two tall figures at the far end of the hall. One was silver-haired, and robed in storm-cloud grey; the other's hair and garments were all the shades of midnight. Both wore questioning expressions, aimed in the direction of a certain elven lord.
Elrond finally shattered the stillness. Bowing low to the newcomers, he addressed all the elves in the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, smiling, "it is my deepest pleasure and honour to introduce to you two very esteemed lords, who have come all the way from Valinor for this joyous occasion – the lords Lórien and Mandos."