Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's and the plot, everything else belongs to Tolkien and those who currently own the rights to his work.
Chapter 2- A new home
Third Age 2552
Elrond sat in his study surrounded by piles of paper. He'd gotten through only half of the first stack when he heard a quiet knock at his door. He sighed. At this rate I'll never get any of this work done.
"Come" he called, not bothering to lift his head to look at the door. He recognized the footsteps of his trusted advisor, Erestor, but not those of the ellon who followed him. He looked up to see a young herald trailing the counselor.
"A messenger has arrived from Mirkwood, my Lord." Erestor glanced back at the young ellon. "His instructions were to give the letter to no one but you." The counselor sounded slightly annoyed though no one but Elrond would have noticed.
The young elf bowed politely and walked toward the desk where Elrond was seated. He handed Elrond a scroll bearing the seal of Thranduil himself. "I am Glandur of Mirkwood, I bring a message to you, Lord Elrond of Imladris, from King Thranduil of Mirkwood," the messenger stated formally.
Elrond took the scroll in hand and addressed the young ellon. "Thank you for delivering it to me." He looked to his advisor, "Please see to it that our visitor is given food and a place to rest. He has traveled far." Elrond smiled politely at the young ellon and the elf lord raised a hand dismissing him.
Elrond carefully unrolled the scroll the young messenger handed him. There were actually two letters contained within; one from the King and a second folded letter that Elrond placed on the desk. Elrond turned his attention to the letter written in the majestic handwriting of the Lord of Mirkwood. It had been many years since Elrond had heard directly from the King. Thranduil was not one to write casual correspondence, especially not to Elrond. Most of the correspondence for day-to-day concerns between the two realms was carried out by each Lord's trusted counselors. Elrond realized the message must contain a matter of some importance for Thranduil to have written him at all. Intrigued, he quickly read the letter from Thranduil and then the second letter he'd placed on his desk. After some minutes he laid both letters down and reached for the glass of wine he'd poured himself hours earlier.
Leaning back in his chair Elrond stared out the window overlooking the gardens. The spring ephemerals were beginning to bloom and he sat gazing out upon their beauty for some time. It would seem to any casual observer that Elrond had fallen asleep or had been awestruck at the sight of the garden's loveliness- staring out the window as he was, but the Lord of Imladris could not see the elanor. He was deep in thought. A quiet sigh escaped his lips and he tucked the letters into the top drawer of his desk. My response can wait a day, I must think on this further. And with that, the Lord of Imladris continued on with his daily routine, his mind never fully on the tasks at hand. Elrond could not forget the words contained in those letters or how they might change life in the Last Homely House forever.
A group made its way to the gates of Imladris. They'd encountered scouts guarding the borders of the land and were now being escorted to the House of Elrond. For a group that had traveled so far and long, they looked as radiant as any beings that had ever walked Middle Earth. Each member of the party was dressed in fine robes and cloaks embroidered with beautiful silver thread. The road between Mirkwood and Imladris was hard but none would have known it by looking at the assembled party. Thirty or so elves walked steadily into the courtyard and were greeted by Lord Elrond and the members of his house. A messenger had been sent ahead to inform Lord Elrond of their arrival and he waited on the veranda to greet them. Most of the group would be staying for only a few days before heading on to the Grey Havens and from there, to Valinor.
Elrond stood majestic and lordly surrounded by his sons Elladan and Elrohir, and his daughter Arwen. Others of his household had also gathered to greet the Mirkwood elves- Glorfindel the Balrog slayer of great legend, his high counselor Erestor, and others. It had been long years since any from Mirkwood had visited these lands.
Elrond's eyes swept over the newcomers trying to spot the child Thranduil wrote to him about. He spotted her as she entered the gates; her arm entwined with an ellon of great stature. Elrond immediately noted the similarities in their features. Haldor he recognized immediately, though it had been many centuries since he had last seen this captain of Greenwood. It was, as Elrond understood it, Haldor's idea that his granddaughter should come to live in the Last Homely House. The urgency of Haldor's request disturbed Elrond. Haldor wanted his granddaughter to leave Mirkwood quickly, but would not tell Elrond why. Elrond could guess, of course, knowing Thranduil's distain for him personally, and the rude treatment of his sons when he'd sent them as messengers to Mirkwood. Greenwood the Great was no place for the half elven and so Elrond granted the ellon's request to bring his granddaughter to Rivendell.
"Le suilon." Elrond nodded to the newcomers. "Welcome to Imladris. I pray you have all had a safe journey. We have prepared rooms for you to refresh yourselves and a meal honoring your arrival. If you will permit it, members of my house will show you to your rooms where you may rest before the evening meal."
The crowd bowed and words of thanks were given to the elf Lord. Most of them had never seen the peredhel before and so were curious as to how he would greet them. They were pleased by his kind words and hospitality. Within minutes most of the assembly had made their way out of the courtyard, only Haldor and his granddaughter remained. Haldor walked to Elrond, leading the young elleth along by her arm.
"Lord Elrond," Haldor bowed respectfully and the elleth curtseyed.
"Haldor," Elrond nodded. "It has been a long time, and this must be your granddaughter." He looked to the young elleth on his arm who did not meet his eyes.
Elrond noted the child's nervousness and the way her eyes darted around the courtyard falling briefly on his daughter and sons.
"Yes," Haldor smiled, "this is Eruanna."
"I have prepared rooms for you both in the west wing as I realize you will be staying quite longer than the others," he smiled at the quiet elleth who did not return the gesture. "My daughter will show you the way."
"I thank you, Lord," Haldor bowed to Arwen as she came to stand with them.
"Hello, Eruanna, I am Arwen," she smiled at the young elleth.
Eruanna looked upon the face of the beautiful elleth but did not smile. "I am pleased to meet you, Lady."
Haldor looked to Elrond. "I was hoping, Lord, that I might have a word with you, when convenient," he glanced down at his granddaughter.
Elrond hoped this meant the ellon was finally going to tell him the truth about why Eruanna left Mirkwood. "I am free now, if you are not too tired," he turned to his daughter, "Arwen, why don't you show Eruanna to her rooms. I'm sure she could use a bath and some rest."
Eruanna looked to her grandfather fearfully. The ellon patted her hand gently and nodded his head. Eruanna released her hold on her grandfather's arm. Arwen took the young elleth's hand and smiled. "Come child, your grandfather will return to you shortly." Arwen nodded to the two ellyn as she led Eruanna away.
"My study is this way," Elrond gestured for the other to follow. The two ellyn walked silently along the halls toward Elrond's private rooms. He could not help but notice the ellon's unease. Upon entering Elrond motioned for the ellon to take a seat near the hearth.
"Would you care for a drink, Haldor?" Elrond moved to pour himself a glass of wine.
"Yes, thank you."
Elrond handed him a goblet and sat down in the chair facing his. Elrond sipped from his glass waiting patiently for Haldor to speak.
"I…I don't know where to start." The ellon looked down at his glass, unable to meet the elf Lord's eyes. "It began about two years ago…."