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 39 – Child of Arnor
Third Age 2933 (102 years later)
It was late in the evening when Eruanna finished organizing the stack of papers required for the morning council meeting. It took more hours than she'd expected to complete the task Erestor set for her, as per usual.
She smiled to herself at the memory of Lord Elrond's prophetic words, 'Should you ever find yourself in Erestor's employ, you'll be busier than ever you were as his student."
Eruanna placed the final page atop the pile and sat heavily in her chair. Her stomach grumbled its disapproval for missing the evening meal. Unfortunately for her stomach, she still needed to drop these scrolls off in Elrond's private study before she could seek out a snack from the kitchen. I'd better get moving, or the sound of this grumbling will wake the entire house!
Eruanna tied the pile with a bit of string and lifted it into her arms. She blew out several candles that lit the room before heading out. Her footsteps echoed eerily in the halls. The house had grown quiet in the last few decades with one family after another departing for Valinor.
Drawing nearer to Elrond's study, Eruanna's ears were met with the sound of hushed voices. There were several and they spoke not in any elven tongue. It was the sound of Westron and the voices were those of men, not elves. Eruanna had seen men before, visitors to Elrond's house, but she did her best to avoid them. It was not possible now. As she rounded the corner, her eyes fell upon a gathered company of men, six in all. They were seated or standing near the gallery windows across from Elrond's study, the very place to which she was headed. The men did not miss her sudden appearance. Some looked at her curiously, others with a healthy measure of suspicion. It was those eyes that angered Eruanna and gave her courage enough to continue her forward movement. This was her home after all; it was their presence, not hers that raised suspicion.
Eruanna fixed her gaze on the door and upon reaching it, knocked loudly as one who expected admittance. Not seconds later a face appeared before her, but it was not the one she'd expected, "Elladan?"
"Eruanna," the young Lord glanced over her shoulder at the men in the hall before ushering her inside.
Eruanna slipped into the room to find quite a crowd already gathered. Elrond sat in his favorite chair by the fire. A woman sat across from him, her arms wrapped tightly around some small bundle. Eruanna could not see the woman's face; her hands shielded it from view as she wept softly. Erestor looked on silently, standing at Elrond's side. Elrohir was there also, leaning against the edge of his father's desk.
All glanced briefly in Eruanna's direction as she entered then returned their attention to the weeping woman.
For several seconds Eruanna was unsure of what to do. The weight of the package in her arms reminded her of the reason she'd come in the first place and she moved quietly to Elrohir's side, laying the bundle of papers in their usual place on Elrond's desk. She questioned Elrohir with her eyes, but he merely shook his head in reply, unable to discuss whatever this was about at the present time.
Without a word, Elrohir pushed off from his resting place and made his way to his father's side. He dropped to one knee and whispered something in Elrond's ear. His father nodded once and in a soft voice began speaking to the woman.
"Lady Gilraen," Elrond whispered, placing a gentle hand upon her shoulder. The woman's hands fell from her face and Elrond handed her a handkerchief to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Gilraen dried her face, catching her breath before making any attempt to speak. "Forgive my weakness, Lord Elrond. These past few days have been terrible and I knew not where else to go."
Elrond frowned sadly at the woman's words. "Do not apologize, Gilraen. I have never known weakness to be a trait of the women of the Dunedain," their men perhaps, but never their women. "You were right to come here."
"Thank you," Gilraen's voice trembled but she managed a small, genuine smile.
"There are many things we must discuss, you and I." Elrond glanced briefly in Elrohir's direction before retuning his attention to the woman and the bundle in her arms. "Perhaps it would be best if we put your son to bed. He has fallen asleep once more."
Gilraen looked down at the child she held close to her breast. She did not appear willing to let him go.
Elrond took the woman's hand firmly in his, offering her the assurance she needed. "He is safe in my house. No harm will come to him here."
The woman nodded slowly, soothed somewhat by the elf Lord's words.
Elrond lifted his eyes from the woman. They drifted across the room to where Eruanna stood. All the time he'd spoken to the woman he used Westron but he fell back into Sindarin when addressing Eruanna. "Eruanna, will you take the child to your room for now and watch over him?"
Eruanna's eyes widened at this unexpected request. She'd never cared for a child before. In truth, she could not even recall the last time she'd laid eyes on one.
Elrond saw the uncertainty in Eruanna's eyes. It was Elrohir who suggested Eruanna take the child, and there was no one who worried more for the heir of Isildur than Elrohir. Elrond beckoned Eruanna forward. "We trust you with his care, Eruanna. Please come and take him."
Eruanna moved hesitantly to Gilraen's side.
Elrond once again addressed the woman, "Lady Gilraen, this is Eruanna. She will see that Aragorn is well cared for." Elrond reached out to take the boy from the woman. If any other had attempted to part mother and child, they would not have met with such success. Elrond stood with the child in his arms and passed him off to Eruanna so that the boy's head rested on her shoulder.
Eruanna took the child carefully, afraid of dropping him in front of his worried mother. She studied the small face that nestled against her shoulder. She hardly believed that such innocence existed in the world. Eruanna lifted her eyes to meet Elrond's and he motioned for her to take the child away. Erestor smiled gently at Eruanna, his silent gaze assuring her that she would not fail in this task.
Eruanna left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. It was only then that Eruanna recalled the assembly of men waiting in the hall.
"Where do you take him?" one barked at Eruanna before she could take two steps away from the door.
The words were spoken in Westron and Eruanna managed through a sudden flash of fear to find the proper words. "To sleep," she told him.
The man did not appear convinced. He took a step towards her, growling menacingly as he did. "Who are you?"
An answer issued from the doorway to Elrond's study.
"She is my sister, Haldad," the icy tone in which Elrohir spoke those words left no doubt as to his feelings concerning the man's rude behavior. He fixed the man with a glare worthy of Glorfindel. "Did you think I would allow someone I do not trust to take him?"
Haldad fell silent at the Lord's reprimand. He'd trusted this elf-man all his life and would not begin questioning his wisdom now. Haldad bowed his head to Eruanna in apology. "Forgive me, my Lady."
Eruanna accepted his apology with a nod. Her eyes shifted to Elrohir who remained standing in the doorway.
Elrohir spoke to her in Sindarin. "Go now. We will come to see you later."
Eruanna nodded once and turned to face the man Haldad. His concerned eyes rested on the child she held in her arms. Eruanna did not know who this child was, or why he'd been brought to Imladris, but there was one thing of which she was certain. "He will be safe here. Lord Elrond will protect him."
Eruanna rushed to the door at the sound of light knocking. She'd sat in silence for more than an hour watching the babe sleep, waiting for someone to come and tell her what this was all about.
Eruanna opened the door quietly, not wishing to wake the sleeping child. "Lord Elrond, Elrohir," she whispered in greeting.
"May we come in?" Elrond asked out of courtesy, not really expecting to be turned away.
"Of course," Eruanna stood aside so the ellyn could enter. She closed the door behind them and led the pair to her bedchamber. "He is asleep on my bed." She'd laid the child in the center of her bed and placed pillows around him for fear that he might fall.
Elrond entered the darkened room and took a seat beside the sleeping mortal. His eyes were closed and his face peaceful. Elrond lifted his eyes to find Eruanna sitting opposite him. "Thank you for taking him. I know you have never cared for a child before, but you are not the only one."
Eruanna knew the truth of those words, having met many childless edhil in both Imladris and Lórien. "He slept the entire time so it was not too difficult." Eruanna brushed the boy's hair from his face. She'd never before seen another sleep like this, with their eyes closed.
"He sleeps with his eyes closed," she whispered, "now I know why the others find it so disturbing."
Elrond understood how it felt to be thought different. He'd long been the only member of the household to sleep thus. "It is natural for mortals, as it is with us," he told her.
Eruanna's eyes widened in surprise, she'd never thought to ask Elrond if he slept like this…it was not exactly the most appropriate of questions.
After the shock of this new revelation wore off, Eruanna found she was ready to learn more about why this mortal child and his mother had come to Imladris. "What brings them here?"
This outwardly simple question caused Elrond's grey eyes to darken. Those troubled eyes fell on Elrohir, who'd remained silent all this time. "Elrohir will explain, but once he has, you must swear never to share this knowledge with anyone. Do I have your word?"
Eruanna looked down upon the tiny child, why one so small should require such secrecy was not within her realm of understanding, at least, not yet. "I swear it," she told him.
Elrond took Eruanna at her word; he had no reason to believe she'd break it. He smoothed down the blanket cradling the sleeping child. "Erestor has prepared a room for Gilraen and her son, but I think she could use a quiet night's sleep. Will you keep him here until the morning?"
"Of course," Eruanna was not about to chase the child from her bed and in truth, she was not yet through watching him sleep.
Elrond's heart warmed at the elleth's kindness, though he'd expected nothing less from Eruanna. He leaned down to kiss the child's forehead, whispering these words as he did, "You are safe now, little Estel."
Author's Note: I reworked the ending of this story a bit so we have 7 chapters remaining, then I'm going on a little writing hiatus. I may write some short stories, but nothing this long for at least a year. Let the countdown begin!