Chapter Nineteen: Arwen Group
Arwen left the comfort of her friends behind and moved silently through the halls. Thus far, it was all exactly as she remembered it. Until she reached the doors of his study and found ten armed elves stationed outside. Come to think of it, there had also been several other groups of them standing at strategic points throughout the building. This came as a shock. In all her three millennia, she had never seen guards around her father.
Unlike Lórien, which shared borders with dangerous lands, Imladris had never needed an honor guard on the level of the March Warden's. There had always been warriors that patrolled the borderlands and scouts sent out to gather news and tidings from the world outside, but they had to travel rather far just to find other populated areas. While every elf in Imladris was well trained in the art of war, and could be mobilized instantly if necessary, there was no constant danger that ever threatened the land. Rivers and mountains neatly hemmed it in, and the major roads did not pass nearby. Its existence and location was like a well-kept secret, and due to the soured relationship between the different speaking races, those not of the Eldar paid it little notice, save in legend.
It seemed an ominous development that Lord Elrond considered such a step necessary. Her father had never enjoyed the ceremony and stately duties of ruling Imladris. Arwen had always suspected that he missed the relatively simple life of being a warrior. He had never been one for politicking, nor for sending other elves off to fight battles while he stayed safe at home. She'd always admired him for this, and felt that it made him a better leader than one with a passion for power.
"Well met, Lady Arwen," an elf guarding the door murmured, pulling her out of her thoughts.
"Well met," she replied politely.
"I will inform Lord Elrond that you are here." He rapped a quick pattern on the door and then entered. A few endless seconds later, he reappeared and nodded to her.
Arwen whispered, "Thank you," and approached the entryway cautiously. Noticing the curious stares of the elves around her, she quickly stepped inside and pulled the heavy door closed behind her. His study hadn't changed. It was made of the same stone as the rest of the building, had the same high ceilings. Its crowning feature was a back wall that was entirely windowed to show a magnificent view of the surrounding lands. It was still decorated in the same bold colors, and she found herself remembering racing in to collapse dramatically on the velvety rug as a child, usually on the run from her prank-loving brothers. She finally tore her gaze from the room to take in the elf sitting behind a large desk covered in books and maps.
He was staring at her, as though drinking her in, and she returned the gaze. He looked ultimately the same as when she saw him last; same tall, imposing figure, same stately dress, same silver crown weaving through his long black hair. What looked different, she noted in confusion, was his face. His expression spoke of regret so clearly that it took her breath away. Gray eyes locking with gray, he rose lithely from his seat. As one, they moved together and into a desperate embrace.
"Ai, Arwen," he murmured into her hair.
"Adar," she choked out, clinging to him tightly for an endless moment.
Managing to unlock her arms from around his neck, he stepped back slightly to look at her again. "I have missed you."
She felt tears run down her face as she whispered, "I have missed you, too." 'Whatever happens next,' she thought fiercely, 'I will always have this moment to remember and know that he loves me.'
Elrond eased back from her and grasped her hands in his. "I am so happy that you are home." He finally let go, as though reluctant to do so, and moved back to sit again. Arwen settled into a chair and faced him across his desk. This was the more intimidating position she remembered, but she refused to let it get to her.
For a long moment, both father and daughter were silent, and Arwen felt anxious to fill the sudden void. "Is it so dangerous here, now?" she asked.
He looked briefly confused, and then nodded. "You speak of the guards? We know not how dangerous, only that threats to this land have been heard in whispers. Seemingly random bands of goblins keep finding their way here. And there is a shadow…" he trailed off, as though suddenly recalling who he was talking to.
"Adar, do not treat me so," Arwen said sharply, unwilling to let their relationship travel down old paths. "I am not the cloistered and vulnerable seer that you see me as. I, too, have the skills and sharp wit of a warrior. An elleth can be both. I will not break like my mother."
Elrond looked shocked. "I am merely trying to keep you safe. You are the heart and the light of our people, you must thrive at all costs."
"I am more than a symbol," she replied forcefully. "I have more to offer the world."
"What more can you offer than to be thus? To play your role as the symbol of beauty and eternal light that we all fight for, you must not waste your influence elsewhere." His voice rose in vehemence, fair face contorting in anger and fear.
"We?" she demanded craftily. "I knew not that you were even planning to get involved. You seem more likely to sit back as you have for millennia and let Lothlórien and Mirkwood take the fall."
He was stunned by her harshness and the cynical truth of her words. Indeed, he had not sent aid to Galadriel these long years while the land around her constantly changed ownership. Nor had he sent aid to Thranduil for his endless struggles with Mordor. After the defeat of Sauron and the betrayal of Isildur, and most importantly after the tragedy with his wife, he had withdrawn bitterly from the world around him. He had made Imladris a safe-haven, but had not used his position or his power to help anyone. Arwen truly WAS more than a mere vessel for the Valar. She had wisdom.
"You are right," he admitted softly.
It was Arwen's turn to be stunned. In all the long millennia of their father/daughter struggles, he had never acquiesced to her demands to be taken more seriously. She knew in part that he was deeply afraid of losing her, but it still rankled. And now, not only was he listening, he was admitting to the truth of her words. Hope sprang up within her breast, a tiny seedling that only needed nurturing to grow. She smiled the most genuine smile he'd ever seen, and he felt like a fool for not spending the past 3000 years endeavoring solely to make this happen. When Arwen Undómiel truly smiled, the whole world stopped to take note.
"Adar," she said tentatively. "I do not mean to be harsh, only to truly gain your attention. I have learned much over these past centuries without you. One such lesson is that I need you in my life. Another is that in order for our relationship to work, you must respect and trust me as much as I do you."
Elrond sighed heavily. He would do anything in these darkening times to keep her close to his heart. "I will do my best, dearest," he replied firmly, earning him another true smile.
"Now tell me what you fear," Arwen said briskly, her mind reeling at all the changes between them.
He stared at her for a long moment, as if measuring. "The fear I have harbored since Isildur took the ring," he said finally. "That the Dark Lord Sauron has found a way to return to strength. That he is biding his time, waiting for something…" he trailed off again.
"For the ring to be found," Arwen filled in.
Elrond inhaled sharply, still not used to her bold and earnest way of speaking. "Nay, the ring is lost to the Sea. I fear that he will find some other way to reclaim power," he hedged, thinking that while her council could prove truly useful, he still wanted to protect her from the full weight of his fear.
"Nay, you fear that the worst will happen, and that the works of those bearing the three hidden rings will be laid asunder," Arwen astutely intuited, studying his face carefully as she spoke. He looked shocked into silence, so she continued. "Galadriel fears this too."
"Galadriel has confided in you?" Elrond asked incredulously. "She is infamous for taking NONE fully into her confidence, even Celeborn." He regarded his daughter, who seemed fully committed to endlessly surprising him today. She smiled briefly and it lit up the room, reminding him all over again just how much he'd missed her.
"Ai, and I am certain that she has shared with me only the tiniest part of her thoughts." Arwen broke off, thinking now of Willow and Buffy, and their place in the coming war. "There are two others that she has shared even more with than myself. They should be here for this conversation," she added.
"They are here in Imladris?" Elrond questioned, not liking how little he seemed to know about what was happening.
Arwen looked surprised. "Ai, did you not learn the nature of our party long before we arrived?"
"I did not," he replied peevishly. "I was merely told that you were approaching and that the party of guards I sent with the twins intercepted you."
She swallowed hard. The scouts had obviously been too afraid of his wrath to explain the strange circumstances of her journey. "The two I speak of were my escorts here," she said carefully.
"Then by all means, I should meet them before they return to Lothlórien with the rest of your escort," Elrond stated, sliding back into his role as Lord of Imladris.
Arwen felt trapped. She stood stiffly and muttered something about going to fetch them, leaving before he could insist on sending the guards in her stead. Exiting the building, she found the twins and her friends exactly where she'd left them.
"Wen!" Buffy smiled as she sprang up from her seat, unconsciously placing a hand behind her to pull Willow up as well.
"How'd the big reunion go?" the redhead asked.
"And should we be having this conversation here, or while running for our lives?" the slayer added, ducking as Willow slapped at her head.
Arwen sighed, and the young women exchanged a worried glance. "Ai, it went fairly well. We hugged, I cried, we argued, we apologized," she said finally, imitating Buffy's method for quickly summing up emotional situations.
"That's good!" Willow crowed happily. At Arwen's hesitant expression, she babbled, "I mean, that IS good, right?"
"Ai, very good," the elleth smiled briefly, before looking concerned again. "He is talking to me as an equal now. He is seeing my potential as more than a symbol that he must protect. It is wonderful. But," she broke off and met their eyes sheepishly, "Ihavenottoldhimhowwecamehereyet," she rattled out.
"Come again?" Buffy asked, though the expression on her face said that she'd understood.
"I was surprised when he did not immediately demand to know who you were and where the rest of our party was. You see, none of the scouts told him what they found when they met us, only that we were on our way safely."
"That's NOT good," Willow said nervously. "I'd kinda been hoping you all were kidding about the whole Vengeful Lord thing."
Elladan and Elrohir, silent thus far, snickered loudly, earning angry stares from the three females. "Kidding…" Elladan repeated, and snickered some more.
Elrohir turned to Elladan and said somberly, "Do you remember when Iothil from Mirkwood accidentally tripped Arwen and made her fall into the river?"
"Ai!" Elladan returned, picking up the tale easily. "Adar sent him down that same river bound to a wooden plank. No one knows if he ever got free..."
Elrohir took over again. "Why, he could be drifting all alone in the Sea even as we speak…"
"If some dreadful Sea creature has not found him yet," Elladan finished smoothly, and they shared a triumphant grin at Buffy and Willow's fear-filled expressions.
"This is so not funny!" Buffy snapped. "If Dumb and Dumber don't have anything useful to add, then shut it," she warned, unleashing the slayer death glare on them both. They winced, wondering briefly whose wrath would be worse, hers or Lord Elrond's.
"He will NOT execute you or…or send you down the river," Arwen interjected uneasily.
"OK," Willow said, in planning mode. "We won't tell him right away, he'd just be more likely to strike rashly, right? So we'll let him get to know us first, explain who we are and all that, and by the time he finds out he'll like us!" She looked hopefully at the others.
"I am sorry that I did not tell him," Arwen said sincerely.
Buffy sniffed dramatically. "Oh that's just fine, fine, fine. I mean, I'm sure we'll be just as capable of saving the world in pieces, no?" Arwen looked miserable, and Willow slapped Buffy's arm for her antics. "Alright," the slayer sighed mock-wearily. "Let's get this thing over with." Ignoring the twins, who were making gagging and throat slitting motions in the background, the three friends went to face their doom.
Buffy and Willow looked curiously around the impressive stone building as they made their way to Lord Elrond's study.
"What's with all the muscle?" Buffy asked quietly, instantly noticing the not-so-casual arrangement of armed elves.
"That is new development," Arwen whispered. "I was shocked when I realized their purpose. Never have I seen armed guards surrounding my father. That is not his way."
"Probably not a good sign," Willow murmured. "If he's starting to fear for himself, imagine how uber-scared he must be for you."
Arwen merely sighed in response as they reached the doubly guarded door to Elrond's study. After a quick check from the guard, they were sent in.
Lord Elrond stood regally as they entered and stood before him, trying to cover his shock at their young, female, and clearly mortal faces. If Arwen hadn't been feeling so worried for her friends, she would have laughed out loud at his expression. "Welcome to Imladris," he managed.
Buffy and Willow bowed briefly and smiled encouragingly at him as Arwen took over. "Lord Elrond," she began formally, "I present to you Lady Aarion Telumehtar and Lady Taserë Kuruni."
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Buffy said warmly, hoping to win him over.
"Lady Arwen has told us so much about you," Willow added, trying not to giggle as Arwen quickly threw them a smirk.
Elrond stood quietly for a moment, wondering what could possibly come next to surprise him more today. A pink Mûmak? He gave his daughter a long look, hoping for some clue. "Well met," he said finally. He returned to his chair and gestured to them to sit as well. After a pregnant pause, he added, "How may I assist you?"
Arwen leaned forward earnestly. "There are many matters to discuss, Adar. As I told you, Galadriel has taken these two into her confidence, and I believe you can too. They are here for a reason." She turned to Buffy and Willow. "This is really your tale to tell." The three stared at each other silently for a moment.
"How much should we tell him?" Arwen jumped slightly at the sudden appearance of Willow's voice in her head. She knew that the other two were used to communicating with each other like this, but they'd only done it once with her --- mostly just to see if they could. Since she was used to talking to her grandmother this way, it was fairly easy.
"Not to be insulting, Wen," Buffy added quickly. "But should we tell him everything Galadriel knows?"
"Ai," she replied. "And not only because he is my father. Lord Elrond is very powerful, and could be of great aid."
Buffy and Willow shared a quick look to confirm that they were on the same page before Buffy spoke up. "We're gonna take you into our confidence in hopes that you'll do the same," she began, and Elrond nodded for her to continue.
She quickly explained how she and Willow had come to Middle Earth, and what their roles in their home dimension had been. This took quite some time, and Elrond looked far from convinced that they were telling the truth. Willow then took over and described their year in Lothlórien, their new role as Guardians of the Scythe, and their work with Galadriel and Arwen to determine their new powers. Finally Arwen spoke about her desire to return home, and Galadriel's vague charge that someone in Imladris needed help dealing with a new destiny.
Elrond stiffened at this. Galadriel knew that he'd been secretly protecting the line of Gondorian Kings, but he hadn't told her about Estel, or his own intuition that his foster-child was the one destined to reclaim the throne. He placated himself with the knowledge that Galadriel had the sight, and that there was no one in all of Arda that could keep a secret from her. Which made it a small miracle that here in his study were three that had apparently been taken into her confidence --- if ever he wanted to know what the Lady of the Wood was thinking, now was his best shot at finding out. It was too risky to share sensitive knowledge via letter, so they were always vague and heavily encrypted.
"They are 'sky warrior' and 'red magick'," he murmured thoughtfully as he looked closely at them.
"Adar?" Arwen prompted curiously, and he realized he'd spoken aloud.
He held them all in his gaze sternly. "My instinct is to disbelieve this tale of heroines from other worlds --- for that is what I am meant to swallow, is it not? That you are both heroes, and that you have been sent here by the Valar of your world to SAVE us." He broke off, laughing somewhat bitterly at the prospect.
"Oh, it's not all so hunky-dory as that," Buffy interrupted with a cynical laugh to match his own. He paused and took notice. "What you're witnessing is more the result of an inter-dimensional hair pulling contest than divine intervention."
"What is your meaning?" he asked, confused.
"Simply put: the Powers That Be (our world's version of the Valar) saw an opportunity to both get rid of me and take the credit from the Valar for getting your asses outta the frying pan, here."
Elrond took a long moment to think, attempting to process the strange words and catch their underlying meaning. "If they want to 'get rid of you,' why would they think you could win a war and gain them credit?"
Willow spoke up, explaining Buffy's death-cheating trend and the effect this had on their world. "See, she's the best champion they've ever had. So they took advantage of the fact that she had to either die or leave the dimension by using her in their own nefarious pursuit of power." She worked up a good scowl and Buffy giggled.
"Nefarious, I like it."
"The Valar have a way of being inscrutable, but I cannot remember them being power hungry or heartless," Elrond said, feeling suddenly saddened by the implications of their words. As disconnected as he felt with Arda, he could not imagine being sent to another dimension.
"Pretty much exactly what Galadriel said," Buffy replied.
Arwen was still watching her father closely. "What did you mean by 'red magick' and 'sky warrior'?"
Elrond looked startled, and then retrieved a letter from a locked drawer. "This is what Galadriel sent to inform me of your homecoming," he explained, and held out the parchment for the three to read.
E,
I hope these tidings reach you in good will and health. We have enjoyed such here, though the usual annoyances continue to pain us. Of late, there have been strange, but welcome, changes that bode well. That which is dearest to your heart returns to you soon, though not alone. Keep watch. Take three into your heart, as there is much to learn and share. Sky warrior and red magick are not tricks to deceive. The guardians will prove useful in your personal endeavor with hope. And do try to control your anger…
G"It makes more sense now in concert with your tale," Elrond commented. They murmured in agreement, smiling at Galadriel's gift for the cryptic. "Now then," he continued, getting down to business. "If you are to remain here for a time, we must see that your escort has what they need for the return trip to Lothlórien."
The three shared a look of trepidation. Buffy decided to speak up. "There is no one else," she ventured.
"They have already departed?" Elrond asked. "They must be exhausted after such a long journey, surely you did not send them away without rest?"
Arwen intervened. "What she means is that they ARE the escort, so there is no one to send home."
Elrond was suddenly glad he was already sitting down. He felt the anger and fear rising up around him like old friends, ready to set their full weight on his shoulders. It took a great force of will to remain outwardly calm while inside he was raging. His voice dropped, low and deadly. "Are you telling me that you traveled for months on end from Lothlórien to Imladris with only these two as your escort?" He stared them all down and they looked appropriately chastened, which was more of an answer than he wanted.
"It was really only one month," said Buffy meekly, hoping to make him less angry. Wrong move.
"ONE MONTH!" he thundered. "That is impossible unless you…" his voice trailed off briefly, and the silence was total. Then he stood abruptly and towered over them. "Tell me that you did not take the pass through the mountains," he demanded of Arwen. Her silence filled in the blanks. Growling, he turned his wrath on Buffy and Willow. "YOU TOOK MY DAUGHTER BY THE PASS OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITH ONLY YOURSELVES TO PROTECT HER?" His voice cracked and boomed throughout the stone room, and most likely throughout the entire valley. They cringed, uncertain what to say to diffuse his anger.
Elrond was suddenly reminded of the last line in Galadriel's letter. "Galadriel," he snarled. "She knew about this, did she not?" More silence. "And she ALLOWED this." Not a peep. "How lucky for her to be so far away," he murmured silkily, and the three exchanged anxious looks. Shouting, they could handle. This was just creepy.
"Should we make with the running now?" Willow squeaked in Buffy's head.
Nah, I think it'd just piss him off more. Let him get it all out, then maybe we can explain," she replied.
Elrond began to pace back and forth behind his desk, doing a fair job of stomping for an elf. He was muttering under his breath, and waving his hands around frantically in time with his words. Occasionally, he'd stop and growl menacingly at them.
"God, he's scarier than the Beastie of N.S.O." Buffy muttered.
"No doubt…"
Meanwhile, the twins sat outside the front door, wishing they could hear what was happening in there.
"Adar is a fair elf," Elrohir asserted, trying to calm his brother. "He does not punish rashly or unfairly."
"Ai, but the one exception to the rule is dear Arwen. He really did send Iothil down the river bound to a plank."
"Indeed, but he also sent out scouts to follow his progress and release him after a day. We conveniently left out that part of the tale. Plus, Iothil was vain and arrogant, there were many reasons to teach him a lesson." He smiled, remembering the cocky Iothil squawking indignantly as he was bound to the plank.
"I still think that Adar is unpredictable when it comes to our sister," Elladan argued. "We nearly exacted punishment ourselves, and we are much more rational when it comes to her."
"True." They fell into thoughtful silence, which was broken some time later by the appearance of Estel, looking forlorn.
Elladan gestured at the young man to sit with them. "What is wrong, foster-brother? You look more glum than we do."
Estel heaved a weary sigh and leaned back against the outer wall of the building. "I know I have heard you mention a sister once or twice during our time in the wild, but I did not…" he trailed off.
"You did not what?" Elrohir prompted, perplexed.
"I did not know she was your sister. I was tired and sleepy and confused." He sounded devastated, and Elladan was concerned.
"What happened, Estel? You are not making sense."
"I was trying to sleep and calm down, and I was singing that song about Lúthien and Beren, and suddenly there she was and it did not occur to me that this was your sister, she just appeared and I thought she was…" he trailed off, embarrassed, and the twins exchanged an apprehensive glance.
"You thought she was what?"
"I thought she was Lúthien Tinúviel," he said in a rush. There was no mistaking the trepidation on the twins' faces now. "What?"
"Did you CALL her Lúthien Tinúviel?" Elladan asked carefully.
"Ai. She did not say very much, and left me as quickly as possible, but I felt like I had upset her somehow."
"This is not good," Elrohir announced.
"That is just about the worst thing you could say to her," Elladan added.
Estel's youthful face crumpled. "But why?"
"It has to do with how overprotected she has always been. In her younger years, everyone would comment on how like Lúthien she was and that she was Lúthien reborn… it was as though they stopped seeing her as Arwen. She came to despise the mere mention of that name. It was a symbol of the image she could not escape, that of a vulnerable vessel of the Valar. Of course, she never admitted all this to us, but being her dear, brilliant brothers, we quickly figured it out," Elrohir explained.
"We used to tease her with it," Elladan said contritely. "It was the only thing we could devise certain to set her off, and yet not result in punishment from Adar. Not nearly as much as when we cut off her hair, at least."
Estel mentally kicked himself for his grievous error, and decided that he needed to find Arwen and apologize. "Where is she?"
"In there," Elladan replied, indicating the building. When Estel rose, intent on finding her, he shook his head quickly. "Nay, I would not go in there just now."
"Why not?" Estel replied, impatient to set things right. He pushed a lock of messy, dark hair from his eyes.
"She and her escorts from Lórien are in there, and Adar is certain to be very angry very soon," Elrohir explained, giving Estel an edited version of their time with Willow and Buffy, so as not to give away their secrets.
"How angry do you think he will be?" Estel asked, looking back at the building worriedly.
There was a sudden, thunderous exclamation of "ONE MONTH!" from within, and they all jumped.
"THAT angry," Elladan replied, and they cringed as they continued to listen to Elrond's diatribe.
Finally, what seemed like decades later, Elrond sat heavily back into his chair and sighed, leaning forward to place his head in his hands. Arwen chose that moment to speak.
"Adar," she started softly. He didn't move to look at her. "Adar, I will try to explain." She paused, glanced helplessly around the room for some cue as to how to continue. Her gaze came to rest on the velvety rug that brought back so many memories of her life here in Imladris. "I feel I have been imprisoned my whole life, but especially after mother's attack. I know that I have the responsibility to protect my gift of sight, and to serve as an icon to our people of better days. But you refused to see me as anything else. You locked me up, tried to keep me from learning, from growing. I know you are afraid, but I need to tell you something very important. CELEBRIAN was ---is--- weak. I love her with all my heart, but I am very different. I can endure the endless dangers and trials of life and they will not break me. It is as I said earlier; in order for us to have a relationship, you must trust me as much as I do you." Elrond's head rose slowly from the table, and they could see tears coursing down his cheeks.
"Very well, explain," he said softly, eyes not leaving his daughter's.
"Galadriel felt it was time for Aarion and Taserë to leave Lórien and begin their quest, so when I expressed my desire to return home, I requested that they escort me, for three reasons. First, they have become my close friends over the past year and I was not ready to say good-bye yet. Second, Galadriel hinted at there being one here that needs their aid. Third, they are incredibly powerful and completely capable of such a task all on their own. It was also I that chose the path by which we came. Honestly, it was a safe time of year to cross Caradhras, and I wanted a small adventure. Especially because I had the security of knowing that these two were with me." She fluttered a pale arm at Buffy and Willow as she made her point.
Elrond heaved a huge sigh, feeling suddenly wearier than he ever had after any long battle. He reflected in silence for a while, and then spoke, turning to trap the two newcomers in his dark gaze. "You cannot blame me for doubting your abilities to provide as much protection for Arwen as a large armed guard."
"No, sir," Willow replied softly. "We can't blame you for that. It happens all the time. But we are stronger and more powerful than we look." After sharing a glance and receiving a nod from Arwen, the two Guardians linked their hands and silently invoked the essence of their power. A sudden wind howled through the room, rattling the large window. Blue and maroon sparkles exploded around them, mingling with a growing blanket of golden light that spread to fill the spaces between the stone walls. The sense of their collective power was immediate and obvious. Elrond looked slightly awed as he regarded them in a new light.
"I have never seen power such as this. It is awesome and frightening, but I also feel instantly that it is not evil. Is it like to the power of the…" he broke off suddenly, catching himself.
Buffy smiled grimly. "Not exactly." Elrond was shocked at this implication that they knew about the three hidden rings of power. "Don't worry," she added quickly when she saw his face. "We only know OF them." She shared a look with Arwen, trying to gauge whether Elrond knew what Galadriel wore on her finger.
"Ai," Arwen replied out loud. "He knows about Galadriel."
"She really DID take you into her confidence," Elrond whispered, gaping at them.
The slayer regarded him closely, sensing that he, too, was a ring bearer. "She didn't tell us who has the other two," she said carefully, not wanting to anger him more with the truth. "Just their type and general function."
"I see," the Lord of Imladris replied, equally carefully, though he suspected that she knew his secret.
Willow broke the tension. "We have a scythe, I guess that's sorta like a ring. It protects us and enhances our powers. Aarion has the powers of the slayer, and I've got the powers of a sorceress, but together, as Guardians, our powers multiply. We can also do some healing, though we're not sure if we can heal others or just ourselves."
"We also live the extended lives of Guardians," Buffy added. "We'll eventually grow old like mortals do and die, but it'll take a few thousand years."
"Fascinating," Elrond murmured. They looked so young and mortal and innocent, and yet they had fought against all odds for a cause that had abandoned them in the end --- that had shipped them off to a new dimension to be used as tools. And yet, here they were, befriending his lonely, misunderstood daughter and willingly accepting the charge to aid his darkening world. It was heartening, now that he was able to work past his fear for Arwen.
The three exchanged a relieved glance, it seemed that his prodigious anger was abating. Buffy leaned forward, indicating with her stance that she had something serious to say. "There are other things we have to tell you about our trip. I noticed your heavy guard around the building, and Wen said it was a new development. We have more to add about the dangers surrounding your lands these days." Elrond regarded the small woman, feeling thrown by her sudden fierceness and strength of will. These two were so much more than they appeared to be. He nodded at her to continue.
"Taserë?" Arwen asked, smiling briefly at her friend. "You are the best teller of tales. Would you?"
Willow nodded and began to speak, giving nearly the same rendition that the twins had received days ago. Elrond, to his credit, did not comment until she had finished the telling of their fight with the wargs and the beast.
Pushing aside the irrational fear that threatened to take him hostage again, he tried to focus. Two things were suddenly clear. First, these deceptively fragile-looking women were more than capable of taking care of his daughter. From their description of this beast, he wasn't certain that a full sized escort of elves could have stopped it. Second, his act of giving in to the demands of his people and stepping up security here was a good move. Hollin was not so very far away. "This is grave news, indeed," he murmured. "Are any of you able to draw?" he asked suddenly.
Buffy and Willow looked at each other, perplexed, and then shook their heads, while Arwen nodded thoughtfully, apparently understanding. "I will attempt to sketch the beast," she stated, clearing up their confusion.
"I do not recognize it by your description," Elrond added. "If I had an image of it, I could search for it in my books. If your words are true, it sounds like one of Morgoth's servants from the First Age. It is possible that it managed to hide away somewhere all these millennia."
"Like Durin's Bane in Moria?" Willow asked, catching the link.
"Ai," Elrond replied, eyeing her warily. "You know much for being so recently arrived in Arda."
"Arwen mentioned Balrogs when we were passing over Moria," Buffy cut in, defending her friend. "She wouldn't talk about it then, but once we had left Caradhras she told us the story of Durin's Bane."
Elrond now turned his wary eyes on his daughter. "I have managed to learn much about the things that you would not allow me to know," she stated calmly. "I am also, if you did not pick this up from our tale, quite brilliant with a bow." Her chin jutted out in defiance as she returned his stare.
"It did not escape my notice," he responded, equally calm. Buffy and Willow remained silent during this exchange, but were silently cheering for Arwen. "I am sorry," he said suddenly, fiercely.
Arwen nodded. "As am I." They shared a small smile then.
Elrond suddenly straightened up, and once again returned to his role as Lord of Imladris. "We will talk more later. For now, I will allow you to get settled in and rest. You all must be hungry and tired." He cast a mischievous glance at them now. "Incidentally, there is plenty of food as we had expected a rather larger party."
The three giggled together, and Elrond was struck by the fact that his lonely daughter had indeed found friends. "I am certain that the twins can help with that," Arwen said gleefully.
"Where are my wayward sons?" Elrond asked.
"Waiting impatiently right outside," Arwen smirked. "I believe they are quite taken with my valiant escorts, and are anxious to know their punishment for placing me in danger." She winked at Willow and Buffy, who linked arms with her before turning to the door.
"I see…" he replied thoughtfully.
Arwen turned her head to take in her father's regal figure. "Would you like to play a game?" she asked.
He grinned quickly at her, before pasting an angry, imperious expression on his face. Arwen instantly exchanged her relieved and happy stance for a more somber, fearful one. Following their lead, Buffy and Willow left her side and clutched each other's hands, doing their best to look terrified and doomed. They marched outside together, with a hand-wringing Arwen and a thunderous Elrond following behind.
As soon as they stepped outside, Elladan jumped up nervously and came forward, followed closely by Elrohir and Estel. "How did it…" his voice trailed off as he took in their expressions and the figure of his Lord Elrond looming over them. He turned to Arwen, who sent him a pleading glance.
"What is happening?" Elrohir asked for his speechless brother.
"This does not concern you," Elrond boomed, and everyone shuddered.
"But what are you doing? What did they do?" Elladan asked nervously, looking to Buffy and Willow now and wincing at their expressions of abject fear. Estel looked on uncomfortably at the two beautiful, cringing mortals, feeling that it was not his place to intervene.
"They are sorceresses!" exclaimed Elrond. "Claiming they come from the Golden Wood. Claiming they have the support of Galadriel herself. They have accosted my daughter and enspelled her to believe they are friends! Her whole traveling escort is missing, it is treachery!" he trailed off angrily while his sons stared at him in shock.
"Sorceresses?" squeaked Elladan, thrown. "I met with them, Adar, I talked with them. They are not sorceresses." Elrohir nodded his agreement. "Did they not tell you…"
"ENOUGH!" Elrond thundered, cutting him off. "It is clear that they have enspelled you, too."
The twins exchanged an uneasy glance. "What do you plan to do with them?" Elrohir asked, managing to sound calmer than his brother. They were both frantically trying to think of ways to get their new friends out of this situation.
Elrond gave Buffy and Willow a cold glance, then turned to his sons. "I will cut off their hands to end their sorcery," he growled.
Elladan moved closer to his father, frantic. "Adar, you cannot do this! They are not evil, I am certain of it. I know you are protective of Arwen, but this is going too far." He turned to his brother, who was staring thoughtfully at Elrond, as though trying to figure him out. Together, they went to stand in front of Willow and Buffy, the intent of their stance obvious. "We will not let you," he said firmly.
Elrond regarded them both in silence for a moment. "Alright," he murmured nonchalantly.
"Alright?" Elrohir repeated in disbelief.
"Alright," Elrond confirmed, gracing them both with a twinkle of a grin.
Two identical mouths dropped open in shock while two sets of dark, beautiful eyes flashed in sudden comprehension. "You were never going to do it," Elladan accused.
The 'sorceresses' burst out laughing behind them, and they whirled around to glare. "There will be no hand chopping today," Buffy said solemnly. They turned back in time to see Arwen and Elrond exchange a victorious expression, before switching quickly to wide-eyed innocence.
"Oh stop it," Elrohir commanded peevishly. "Adar, I did not know you sank to playing pranks on your children."
"Pranks?" he replied. "But they ARE sorceresses, of a sort. And they did claim to have Galadriel's support, in addition to magickally convincing our dear Arwen that friends are not evil." He grinned openly at his daughter's glare. "The only part I may have exaggerated slightly is the part where I cut off their hands. Though they would deserve it for nearly causing me death by shock several times in one day." The 'sorceresses' in question cringed accordingly.