Again I must start with apology… this is starting to become a bad habit! I've just moved house and have no internet! I'm dying without my FFnet fix! But on the happier side it means I've got more time to write! So here's the next chapter, all spangly and new!
Weary from travel, Elanor excused herself early from their meal and slowly padded up winding staircases to her quarters. She removed her riding cloak and stretched, sighing happily as she pulled off the heavy garments and pulled of the soft linen nightdress that lay on her bed. She walked over to the open window, pulling the thong from her hair. Elanor ran her fingers through her hair, grimacing as she pulled out a few twigs. She turned to close the window when Galadriel walked past below her window.
The golden haired elf seemed to float as she walked soundlessly across the grass. Slowly, her face turned upwards to meet Elanors, her eyes locking with hers briefly before she turned and walked onwards. Compelled to follow, Elanor moved hurriedly from the window pausing as her eyes fell upon her sword. Hesitating momentarily she picked up the blade and stepped out of her room. Elanor walked down the silver-lit staircase and across the leaf covered floors, not really knowing where she was going but something was drawing her in.
Ahead of her Elanor caught sight of the whirl of white dress sweep around the corner. Elanor followed her down a small set of stone steps to a small sheltered clearing. A small waterfall splashed away and in the centre, stood upon a stone pedicel, was a round basin. Elanor edged forward and lay her sword down against the waterfall. Slowly she walked to the centre and peered into the bowl, the water rippled and contorted. Suddenly the liquid started to fog, a silver cloud floating over the surface. The cloud swirled once and then stopped. Elanor lent closer as the waters cleared and frowned in confusion as she was met with her own reflection. The ranger glanced up and caught Galadriel's gaze.
The elven queen merely smiled and nodded slowly. Elanor peered back into the bowl and startled when her reflection began to move. She watched as the image moved back, floating away from the face, revealing a young couple, hands entwined. They walked together through a sunlit forest. Elanors eyes widened as she realised the woman she was watching was not herself, but her mother. She was young, much younger than Elanor had ever seen her, but her smile and eyes were something the ranger could not mistake. But her mother was dead. The image swirled and flicked, the figure her mother had been with
The woman was laughing as the man beside her pulled a small white flower from a pouch at his side. He twirled it his in fingers delicately before handing it over to her. Elanor watched as her mother smiled and took the flower. The man beside her turned his face illuminating in the sun. His dark hair shone and grey eyes fixed upon hers. There was no mistaken the elven face that peered back. Elanor gasped and pulled back.
Was he..? Was this her father?
She looked to Galadriel. The elven queen said nothing but smiled knowingly. Elanor stumbled back against a stone seat, collapsing onto the hard surface. Elanor spoke softly, staring at the ground.
"What is that thing?" she asked, looking up to stare at the stone bowl and then at Galadriel.
The lady turned to her , "All that was, all that is and all that will be."
"What do you mean?"
"The mirror showed you whatever you needed so see."
Elanor let out a shallow breath and hung her head. "She looked so happy."
Galadriel stepped over softly and gently placed her hand on Elanors arm,
"You let your feelings guide you but you rely on them too much; you allow your anger to blind you."
Elanor looked up confused as Galadriel spoke again, "Perhaps it is time you got the answers you seek."
As the elven queen spoke her eyes left Elanor and shifted upwards. Elanor followed them and her breath caught as the elf she saw in the mirror stood before her. Grey eyes stared back at her in equal surprise. Tentatively he walked across the leaf littered floor but stopped a few paces away from her.
"You… you are Elanor?" Elrohir whispered gently, his voice uncertain. Elanor nodded meekly staring at him. He looked exactly as he had in the mirror. The same hair and same eyes that were so much like hers.
"You look just like her." he said.
Elanor said nothing as Galadriel quietly stood up and walked away, stopping once to glance at Elrohir before leaving the two alone. The pair stayed there, Elrohir standing and Elanor sitting, neither one speaking yet neither one leaving. Moments of uncomfortable silence passed before Elanor could take no more.
"I do not think I can do this." The ranger stood suddenly, making to move past the elf.
"Wait, please." Elrohir reached out and grabbed her arm, holding her back. Elanor froze and looked at his hand and then up at him. Elrohir caught her look and let go immediately. He stepped back letting his hand drop.
"I am sorry. This is hard for me also."
Elanor paused and looked at Elrohir. "What would you know of it?" she asked bitterly.
"I loved your mother." He spoke softly, lifting his head to look Elanor in the eye.
"Enough to leave her?" The ranger spat back. Elrohir visible flinched at her comment.
"I did not want to leave her." He said disheartened.
"Lord Elrond told me what happened."
"You've spoken to my father?" He asked, looking up at her.
Elanor nodded and walked towards him slowly. "Why did you not come back?" she asked, surprised by the calmness in her voice.
"I had always intended to. We did not know how truly bad things had become. Orcs had been seen in the mountains and were invading King Thrandrils lands."
Elanor moved softly, her mind torn between leaving and listening.
"My brother and I were sent to aid him." Elrohir continued, "I had not realised how long we were gone. Time moves more quickly than you realise. That is the curse of immortality, time becomes of little consequence."
Elrohir sighed sadly and brushed long strands of hair from his face. "I sent many letters to your mother, but got no reply. I began to think that she had forgotten me."
Elanor shook her head, "Not once."
"I know that now." Elrohir said, "I found my letters in my fathers study upon my return to Rivendell. He took them from the messengers, hid them to keep me from her, some vain attempt to make me forget. But I could never..."
Elrohirs voice trailed off and grew quiet. "I confronted him about them, ready to leave my family to be with her. That's when he told me."
Elrohir fell silent. He turned his body away from her but Elanor could see his eyes were foggy with tears. Slowly Elrohirs body sank to the stone seat, his head in his hands.
"I would catch her sometimes," Elanor said softly, partly smiling in a far off memory, "Staring out of the window. She was waiting for you."
"Before I left I asked her to marry me." Elrohir said softly, raising his head. "I gave her my sword as a sign I would return. I left it with her to keep her safe."
Elanor stood up and walked over to the wall. Carefully she picked up the sword and carried it over to Elrohir. The elf looked up and Elanor held it out to him.
"She kept it with her always." Elrohir stood and took the blade gently by the sheath.
"She always thought of herself as your wife." Elanor said, watching as Elrohir pulled the blade fluidly from its cover and angled it in the light. He smiled softly as if he was regarding an old friend. The elvish script darkened the metal as the light bounced off the blade.
"This blade was made for me. Its brother was given to my own. It is the only two blades with this script."
"I could not read it."
Elrohir smiled gently. "There are few who can. It is a union of Quenya and Sindarian."
He held the blade out for Elanor to see as he read the script out loud;
"Aen estar anar, I chathol, hen an I astaldo, dagnir avathari."
"It is called the sun. Forged for the valiant. I am the shadows bane." Elanor said, understanding the words spoken to her.
Elrohir smiled at her. "Your elvish is very good."
"I had a good teacher."
Elanor stopped when she found herself smiling. This was the man she was supposed to hate. He ruined her mother's life. Yet she found herself warming to him, even comforting him. She should hate him for what he had done.
"Forgive me." Elrohir spoke suddenly, noticing the change in Elanor. "I failed you and her."
Elanor paused, uncertain of how to answer him. the ranger walked around in front of him, softly touching the flat of the blade.
"That blade saved my life many times." She said, running her finger over the inscription.
"Then it is yours." Elrohir said, sheathing the sword and holding it out to her.
"I cannot take it." she argued, shaking her head and raising a hand.
"It was made for the valiant. You have shown more courage than I ever did."
Elanor swallowed the mixture of conflicting emotions and hesitantly took the sword from him.
From somewhere within the forest a low bells tolled and voices could be heard.
"The dunedain have arrived." Elrohir said, slowly rising from his seat.
Elanor nodded, taking her leave of the conversation. As she reached the stone steps she paused and looked towards Elrohir,
"Although I may understand your reasons," Elanor said, her voice steady, "this does not mean I forgive you."
"Perhaps in time." Elrohir spoke out to her as she turned away once more.
Elanor paused and looked over her shoulder.
"Perhaps."
I'll admit now that I'm not entirely happy with how that conversation went. I spent so much time leading up to it, it comes across as a bit flat, so don't be surprised if I go back and change it later! This won't be the last exchange between Elanor and Elrohir, oh no, there's much more to come!
But hurrah! The dunedain are back, which means the return of Talin! Of all my invented characters he's my fave!
The inscription on the sword is not accurate. my knowledge of elvish is very very limited and I did the best I could! If anyone knows the right translation I'd happily change it!
Anyhoo, I'll try not to leave it too long before my next post. Just depends on how long it takes to get the internet connected!
And lastly, as always, thank you so much to everyone who's read, reviewed and express their love of this story. I can't thank you guys enough!