"Perhaps even these things, one day, will be pleasing to remember."
-Virgil, Aenid
Existence is a constant process of change, a pattern, a cycle. Even elves, with their different views of times, have to go on with their lives. Spring had passed and Summer was starting. The loudest members of Imladris were about to be scattered to the four winds. Circumstances beyond the control of anyone caused councils of all kinds to be held for all different reasons. The largest group was heading towards the Havens. Another significant number was traveling towards the Golden Wood, and yet another to the Green Wood to smooth out a few diplomatic issues from the last visit of the dignitaries. Erestor was more relaxed this time of year. LothLorien tended to host a large Midsummer festival for the elves. Imladris held a smaller one for the elven and human, and the occasional dwarven resident of the haven. The celebration was one of a smaller scale, directed more towards the children and young courting couples than traveling dignitaries.
Glorfindel, however, was the exact opposite of Erestor at this time of year. His memories of the ancient celebration of Tarnin Austa drew near. A day most forgot. A celebration only read about in history books and told in ancient tales. For Glorfindel the day was steeped in the memories of the destruction of his city, the loss of his closest friends and his family, and of course, his own life. Glorfindel became extremely agitated as summer drew near. Each year the agitation seemed to get worse. The seneschal was slowly nearing his breaking point. Elrond watched in ever increasing dismay as his normally cheerful friend snapped at nearly everyonewho crossed his path. Bad memories were one thing; but rudeness could not be tolerated. Elrond was convinced that all his friend needed was a vacation; a time away from all the daily and mundane duties as the main captain of the Imladris guard.
Dear, sweet Elrond, so often out of the loop even within his own household. He really needed to listen to the whispered rumors more. Either way, Elrond had called his friend into his office.
"Glorfindel, what is the cause of your ire?"
"I…I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps I need a break, a vacation." He was silent for some time. "When are Galdor and his group leaving for the Havens? Perhaps I shall travel with them."
Elrond glanced down at one of his many ledgers and located the correct one. "They leave next week. Morwen and Lindir are traveling with them. Morwen to deliver messages and visit a few old friends. Lindir is going on family business. Perhaps business with the guild there as well, I am not entirely sure. Would you wish to accompany them?"
"If it is possible, yes."
"You need a break my friend. I'm sure Balanauth would enjoy the time to shine as a head captain, also it could be an opportunity to give more responsibility to Thalion."
"And not the twins?"
"Somehow I do not see Elladan letting Morwen go for seven months at the least. He will most likely head out soon after the party. Elrohir has expressed a desire to travel to LothLorien. Seeing as how Celebrian also wishes to visit her parents….The house will be quiet soon. Erestor will be pleased to teach Tarkil in a quiet and calm environment for once. Manberuon will also be pleased to giver her lessons in peace."
"Arwen will not be pleased."
"Rian will still be here. A delegation from Gondor is coming. It will all be fine. You need this time to sort out your mind. Even the wise need a break for folly. You should go Glorfindel."
The Elda stared off into the distance and then slowly nodded his golden head,
"Yes, my Lord, I believe I shall."
Elladan was sulking. He did not often sulk, only when he knew he could not get what he wanted. Which meant that yes, he had many moments of sulking over these past few hundreds years when it came to Aerlinn, but other than that he was his remarkably cheery self. And true, he was nowhere's near as cheery as Elrohir, but then again Elrohir had to be mixing some of their father's powders to stay that cheery. In fact cheery Elrohir was the reason for Elladan's current episode of sulking. Cheery Elrohir meant Elrohir was hiding his true feelings. Just because his brother was suffering a bit of broken heart he had to go off to their Grandmother to be assured he was not destined to be alone. Really, how childish. Like Grandmother's predictions were guaranteed to be true anyway. She once predicted Elladan would marry Rian. The visions of the future must have been overcast as opposed to just plain hazy that day.
Elladan detested when he had to choose between his family and his well…family. Elrohir and mother were going off to the Golden Wood until Valar knew when. Morwen and, if the rumors were certain which they tended to be, Glorfindel were galloping off to the Havens with only the assurance they would be back in time for Arwen's majority ceremony. Because Elrohir was running off it had been decided Elladan should not go on patrol with the guards, and therefore he could not spend time talking with Thalion. And Arwen, his father, and Rian would be staying here in Imladris. Of course, knowing Elladan's luck he would stay in Imladris long enough to have Rian and Erestor shipped off to the Green Wood for some diplomatic meeting and than Elladan would be charged with trying to teach Tarkil the whole of the history of Arda. Oh well, the Havens it was then. It had been so long since he had seen the sea.
Morwen gave Elrohir her very own patented look of death,
"What do you mean Glorfindel is going to the Havens? Tis just a rumor, I am sure."
Elrohir, looking deceptively innocent, shook his dark head, "No, I assure Morwen, I heard Ada speaking of it to one of the healers. He said Glorfindel is more on edge than he usual is and that the sea will calm his soul. It was Glorfindel's own decision to join the group traveling towards the Havens. He has old friends there as well, and the time away from his duties should do wonders for the caustic attitude he has been displaying lately."
Morwen plopped down on her bed and proceeded to scream into her pillow.
"Certainly the Valar hate me. I go to the Havens for one reason and one reason alone and now that reason is following me."
Elrohir rolled his eyes,
"You are being uncharacteristically self-centered about this. I know for a fact, as well you do, that Glorfindel is not attempting to be your personal bane. In fact he tends to avoid any situation that puts him into a position to elicit any sort of passionate emotion from you. Let's be honest, on the traditional lovers' holidays he avoids you like a man does a plague or a hobbit a famine."
"You do wonders for my self-esteem, Elrohir."
"The point I am trying to make, if you would stop interrupting me and stop focusing on yourself, is this: The Sea is what brought Glorfindel here from Valinor. The sea has played a vital role in both of his lives. Some of his most beloved memories occurred on the sea shore. Some of his most beloved moments occurred in Lindon. If any place on Arda can soothe him, tis there. Cirdan has known him for long and has a comforting ear. This will be good for Glorfindel."
Morwen sighed, "I know you are right. I just wish to wallow in self-pity some more."
"Well, we can call Elladan in here and have a self-pity gathering as we beseech the Valar to grant happiness to our hearts."
"Elladan is too busy sulking. And the love of his life is right under his nose."
"Who?" Elrohir asked incredulously, his eyes going incredibly wide.
"Tis not for me to tell, my dear Elrohir. It's just a feeling I have had. He is looking in all the wrong places for all the wrong things. Either way, no one can truly look for love. It beckons to all at different times in our lives. And we must follow it, no matter how scared we are."
"How lucky you are for it to have beckoned you so soon in your life."
"Luck has nothing to do with it, Elrohir. I suffer bitterly for I love onewho does not love me in return. At least not in the way I wish him to. He fears too much for both the past and the future. He may, at some time in my life, be able to let his fear go. But one can not love truly with fear in their heart. And I fear that once he has finally let his fear go, I will be too hurt and too jaded to let him in. I am not lucky at all Elrohir. I almost feel cursed."
Silence reigned in the room for sometime as the two elves thought. Elrohir finally spoke,
"That right there was an impressive bit of self-pity."
Elrohir almost dodged Morwen's pillow.
Elrond watched sadly as the two very large groups headed off on their respective ways. It was rare such a large portion of Imladris' population left at the same time. He was sad to see his wife and youngest son, but he understood his wife's need to see her parents. Elrohir also needed to go off and cleanse the wounds of his heart. The Lady Nithiel had accepted the courting invitation of one of the other minstrels. Elrohir acknowledged the fact that he could not compete with someone that could relate to Nithiel in something that she loved the most. If only the female elf could have become an artist. Elrohir's drawing ability was well renown and most of the residents of Imladris had been the subjects of his illustrations since he was a child and could first pick up a piece of charcoal. Elrond's mind was more concerned with the group heading to the Havens. He had an odd feeling something would change during the stay at Cirdan's realm. And Elrond was not sure that this occurrence was of a favorable nature.
Thanks go to all those who have reviewed and who I have not been able to thank in e-mail.
Ren: I'm glad you stumbled upon my story and I am equally glad you are enjoying it.
Jouri: Thank you so much for your help with the picture, we will find a true Morwen someday.
Everyone else that has stuck with this story so far, esp. Sokochan and Radiion-hobbitwarrior. who have been kind enough to review every chapter, thank you so very much for your support.
Long-ass A/N time:
Probably wondering why this took so long…
Well, it was a tough semester and I having been trying to raise my GPA for when I have to do my applications for Grad school next year. So exams occurred, and then writer's block, and then I was at home for a month with crappy computer access. Excuses, excuses, I know. And I apologize profusely. I also apologize for the short length of this chapter, but it was either 3 little chapters or one REALLY long chapter that would take me another week or so to complete. Hopefully I am back on a normal schedule of updating once a week now. Hopefully. All I can ask is that you bear with me.
A/N 2: Well, I say this often and I'll say it again. Chapters do tend to appear first on my webpage, along with "teases" for upcoming chapters and OC character profiles in case you get confused. Or you can just follow all the links to quizzes, whatever you want.
A/N 3 Jan 2005, for some odd reason chapter 8 is not linking from chapter 7. You can get to it at chapter 6 and at the first chapter.