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 37– A crowded room
Third Age 2805
Elrond postponed the celebration of his daughter's return for more than a week until Eruanna was well enough to make an appearance. It was a great fete with music and food, song and dance. Every member of his house was in attendance…a joyous eve indeed. A smile curled Elrond's lips for the first time in many years. His eyes sought his children. Arwen danced with Elrohir, while Elladan accompanied the musicians with his flute. It was a joy to have all three of his them under his roof again.
A cheer rose to greet the latest arrival and Elrond's eyes flew to the door. Erestor stood on the threshold and all bid him welcome. The counselor hid his embarrassment well, but Elrond was perceptive enough to know Erestor did not care for being the center of attention. Elrond smiled broadly at his friend as he approached the high table, taking his seat on Elrond's left hand side. The counselor had an equally joyous expression on his face, a rare sight for the normally reserved ellon.
"You appear in high spirits this eve, Erestor," Elrond poured a glass of wine for his companion and handed it to him.
Erestor took the glass and nodded in thanks. He'd been avoiding Elrond ever since snapping at him days earlier. He'd spent the intervening time hidden in his rooms so he'd not have to explain the large bruise on his face and cut lip to Elrond. "I am feeling much better. Glorfindel knocked some sense into me."
The humor in Erestor's choice of words was not missed by Elrond. "So I heard," Elrond took a sip of his wine before adding, "Istuion was not pleased."
Erestor should have known the healer would go straight to Elrond with news of his and Glorfindel's injuries. "I imagine not," Erestor groaned dramatically, "I'll not soon forget Istuion's lecture on the proper behavior expected of elven Lords."
The two friends eyes met and they shared a laugh at the healer's expense. When the humor of the moment subsided, Erestor's expression grew serious. He owed Elrond an apology and he'd waited long enough to offer it. "I wish to apologize for my sharp words the other day."
Elrond shook his head, his eyes full of gentle understanding. "There is no need for an apology my friend. You were in pain, and I have been known to push too hard."
"You are too forgiving, Elrond." Erestor shook his head, setting his glass down heavily upon the table. "Please, just accept my apology."
"If you insist," Elrond inclined his head in the ellon's direction, "I accept," and with those simple words all was well between them. Neither Lord could remain hurt or angered by the other for long. Elrond's gaze swept once more over the assembled party but the joy that lit his face did not quite hide the fatigue in his eyes.
"You look tired," Erestor could not keep from voicing his concern.
"I am fine," Elrond replied dismissively.
Erestor was not so easily convinced, "You cannot fool me, Elrond. I've not been away that long." Erestor leaned back in his chair, studying his Lord as he did. Elrond's eyes bore new age lines, but no one else in the household would have noticed. No one else had spent more than six millennia looking into those eyes. The Lord of Imladris had aged more in these last three hundred years than in the proceeding three thousand. "These years have not been easy on you," Erestor whispered, watching his companion's face fall with his words.
Elrond should have known Erestor would see right through him. He breathed a tired sigh, not having the strength to make an attempt at deception. "The house was empty without my children, without you," he stated simply.
Erestor's eyes swept the crowded hall. There must have been two hundred edhil gathered to celebrate their return, "The house is hardly empty."
A sad smile curled the edge of Elrond's mouth, "One can feel alone in a crowded room."
Elrond's words weighed heavily on Erestor's heart. It was a difficult decision for Erestor to leave Rivendell and his distaste for bloodshed was not the only thing holding him back. The Lord of Imladris clung to this world by a thread and Erestor could not help but feel guilt for abandoning him.
A second round of applause drew the Lords' eyes to the door. Glorfindel entered with Eruanna on his arm. Her face was bright, her eyes shining, but her step was slightly unsteady and she leaned on Glorfindel for support.
"Is she truly well enough to leave the healing ward?" Erestor asked, his voice filled with concern.
Istuion agreed that Eruanna was well enough to be released for the evening but Elrond was well aware that nothing he could say would lessen Erestor's worry for the child. Elrond rolled his eyes at his companion, an uncharacteristic gesture if ever there was one. "Do you think I would release her if she were not well?"
Erestor bit his tongue, cursing himself for his thoughtless words. He'd not meant to doubt Elrond's judgment as a healer. "No, of course," he responded with a sheepish smile.
They watched as a line of edhil greeted Eruanna, welcoming her back with handshakes, hugs, and pecks on the cheek. It occurred to Elrond at that moment that although he'd seen Eruanna every day since Glorfindel carried her into the healing ward, he'd not yet properly welcomed her home.
His thoughts drifted back to their parting. It seemed like ages ago Eruanna stood in the courtyard preparing for the journey to Lórien, ages since he made the decision to let her go. Elrond thought he was doing the right thing, but in the years that followed, he wondered daily if he hadn't made a mistake.
This was his greatest weakness.
He'd struggled against it with each fulcrum lost… Elros…Gil-galad…Celebrían. Each time Elrond told himself he'd never again tie his sense of repletion to another. It frightened him to think he might have failed once again. Not since Elros died had Elrond met another born of two worlds. His rational mind screamed that Eruanna was not Elros. It was unfair to use the child as an emotional replacement for his brother, but his heart mourned that lost connection, a bond with another born of men and elves but belonging to neither.
"On the morning you departed for Lórien, I considered telling Eruanna she could not go," Elrond spoke in a quiet voice so no other could overhear.
Erestor's eyes widened at this unexpected confession. "Why?"
Elrond sighed, unable to articulate all the thoughts cluttering his mind. There was only one response Elrond could give him, one he knew Erestor would understand. "So I would not be the only one in Imladris whose footsteps could be heard."
Elrond's words were painful to his friend's ears. It was many long years since he'd heard Elrond decry his halfelven nature. He'd not done so since before wedding Celebrían. For more than two thousand years she was the proof of Elrond's worth and on the day he lost her, the doubts that gnawed at him in ages past returned with a vengeance.
Erestor had yet to inform Elrond about Eruanna's relationship with Rumil. He wished to wait for the right moment, but he realized now that the right moment would never come. "I thought she may not return to Imladris with us."
Elrond was visibly startled by this unexpected news, "What do you mean?"
"You know young Rumil, Marchwarden Haldir's brother," Erestor was well aware his Lord knew of whom he spoke.
"Of course," Elrond replied, "he is a friend of my sons."
Erestor studied his glass a moment, unable to meet Elrond's eyes while delivering this news. "He and Eruanna have become close these last few years. He asked her to stay with him."
Elrond felt his jaw fall open but he quickly regained composure. He'd not been prepared for this, Eruanna was so young and in the waning days of the elves, it was rare for the young edhil in Middle Earth to marry, most waited until reaching Valinor. A myriad of questions clouded Elrond's mind, but one found its way past his lips. "Why didn't she?"
Why, indeed? Erestor grumbled silently. "I believe that would be your mother-in-law's doing."
"Galadriel?" Elrond should not have been surprised. The Lady of Light was known for guiding the destinies of others.
Erestor nodded, his eyes holding a measure of disapproval. "She offered Eruanna a glimpse into her mirror."
Elrond's eyes grew wide at that. He knew Galadriel would not have allowed the elleth to see her future unless she believed it necessary. "What did she see?"
"I dared not ask," Erestor replied, "but I can guess." He could more than guess; he could feel it, the world changing, the darkness drawing near.
Guess, indeed. Elrond's fingers sought the ring he wore on his right hand. He could see the same thoughts flashing across Erestor's face. "The Shadow is gaining power." Elrond closed his eyes and breathed deeply, voicing his greatest fear to the only ellon he trusted with the knowledge. "I fear this time I will not have the strength to stand against him."
Erestor laid a hand on his Lord's shoulder. He could not allow Elrond to think that way, "You will not face him alone."
The two ellyn shared a silent understanding but the quiet moment was interrupted by the tinkling voice of Lúthien reborn.
"Ada," Arwen made her way to her father's side, her face bright and smiling. "Will you dance with me?"
For the briefest of moments Elrond could see Celebrían in his daughter's sparkling eyes. How could he refuse when the two ellith that held his heart looked at him through those eyes? "Of course I will," he stood gracefully, taking his daughter's arm in his and leading her out onto the floor.
Arwen could hardly believe the ease with which her father accepted the invitation but she was grateful for it. She'd been looking forward to this moment for days.
Elrond gazed down into his daughter's eyes. They were a beautiful sight, painfully so. "I'm glad we can finally celebrate your return."
"Yes," the light that lit Arwen's face dimmed as her thoughts turned to the cause of the delay. "Eruanna is recovering fast," she spotted the elleth seated near the terrace, speaking with Glorfindel and the Lórien wardens.
"Arwen," Elrond spoke softly, watching as a flurry of troubled emotions passed over his daughter's face.
Arwen's concerned eyes returned to meet her father's. "I was supposed to look after her."
Elrond's hand tightened on his daughter's. She was not to blame for Eruanna's injuries but he understood the guilt she felt all too well. "We can not always protect the people we love."
"I know," Arwen whispered, laying her head against his chest as she did.
"You are both safe now." They finished the dance in silence and Elrond drew his daughter into a warm embrace when it ended.
Arwen looked up into her father's eyes. They always had the power to ease her fears. "I missed you, ada."
"And I, you." Elrond was about to lead Arwen off the dance floor when a hand on his shoulder halted him.
"Excuse me," Glorfindel managed to sneak up on his Lord and Lady as they moved off the floor. He bowed to the pair with a flourish and held out his hand to Arwen. "My Lady, will you honor me with a dance."
Arwen's good humor returned with Glorfindel's dashing smile. "Of course I will," Arwen kissed her father once on the cheek before taking the ellon's hand.
Elrond passed Glorfindel his daughter's hand and with a nod, turned to seek out Eruanna.
Glorfindel and Arwen fell into step with the other dancers but the Seneschal's eyes followed Elrond to the door where he took a seat beside Eruanna.
Arwen followed his line of sight and both paused to smile as Eruanna's hand rose to wave the dancing couple a greeting. Arwen smiled back at the younger elleth who then turned her attention back to Elrond.
"He missed you," Glorfindel's voice drew Arwen's eyes back to her dance partner.
"I know," was Arwen's solemn reply. She'd wanted so much to see her grandparents again and prove that fear held no sway over her, that she'd not thought about how much her absence would affect her father.
Glorfindel's eyes found Elrond and Eruanna once more. Elrond's eyes were brighter than Glorfindel had seen them for more than a hundred years. It was good to see him smile again. "He missed Eruanna, too, more than he'd care to admit."
Arwen watched her father talking and laughing with Eruanna. It made her heart glad, the sound of his laughter. It was unique among all the ellyn she'd ever known, just like his voice and his eyes. Watching Eruanna and her father sitting together Arwen saw with clarity how alike they were, and how different from the ellyn and ellith surrounding them. "They are the same, Eruanna and my father."
Glorfindel looked down into Arwen's face, nodding his head in agreement. It was good to have Arwen home once more. The house seemed empty without the Lady Undomiel. Her absence weighed heavily on her father's heart. All could feel it. With her return, a light shone once more in Rivendell, and with it, other loved ones sorely missed. "I am glad you have all returned to us," the Lord told her with deepest sincerity, "it has been quiet with everyone away."
Arwen's reply was interrupted by laughter as several young wardens entered the hall, each sporting a mane of bright orange hair. Arwen stopped in her tracks and her mouth fell open at the sight. She'd heard of some recent mishap involving hair soap in one of the bathing facilities, but had yet to see the result.
Glorfindel let out a deep sigh, amending his previous statement as he did, "I take that back. I am glad some of you have returned to us."
Elladan and Elrohir's muffled laughter reached Arwen's ears as the two came to 'rescue' her from Glorfindel. They shook their heads in dismay at the sight of the wardens, looking for all the world as innocent as two newborn pups.
"Such a terrible color," Elrohir said with a convincing measure of pity.
Elladan nodded in agreement, his face a mask of sympathy, "We must find out who is responsible for this cruel prank and deal with the culprit."
Glorfindel looked upon the brothers disapprovingly. Arwen attempted the same but was unable suppress the smile curling the corners of her lips. Elladan's eyes caught hers; the humor she saw there was all that was needed to send Arwen into a fit of laughter. Her brothers quickly followed suit and many curious eyes from around the room alighted on the trio. When the Lady finally regained control of her mirth she wiped away several tears born from her joy wrapping her arms around her mischievous brothers. Her eyes fell on Glorfindel who'd watched the touching moment in silence. Arwen grinned at him and with a contented sigh announced to all, "It's good to be home."