Chapter 2 -Homecoming
Elrond turned away from the unexpected party, smiling to himself. It had been some time since he had last conversed with a Dwarf. Each time found itself to be more pleasurable than the last.
Elrond made his way up the stone steps, passing the guard sentries who nodded their heads in a form of unnecessary respect. Lindir walked beside him, clutching his sword tightly.
"Lindir, you did very well today," Elrond complimented.
"Thank you My Lord."
"Come now, I wish to draw a bath before dinner," Elrond said. Though Elrond looked as elegant and fair as ever, he felt as though he had been swimming in mud. He smelt of orc. He was sure there was Orc blood mingled within his hair. Though one did not necessarily have to keep up appearances when dinning with Dwarves, there was a certain standard of cleanliness Elrond chose to abide by.
The pair made their way to Elrond's private chambers. Lindir instantly drew up a bath for his Lord, as Elrond began untying the laces of his battle worn armor. He winced as he removed his chest armor, his shoulders felt tense and sore.
"My Lord, your bath is ready," Lindir called from the adjoining bathing chamber.
"Thank you Lindir."
"Would you have me clean your armor?" Lindir asked as Elrond lowered himself into the soothing warm water. It smelt of lavender, instantly relaxing him.
"Nay, please stay. I seemed to have pulled a muscle in my shoulder. Would you wash my hair for me?" Elrond replied. Elrond could not ask Lindir to polish his armor. Lindir's hands were made for creating song not servant's work.
"Getting rusty my Lord?" Lindir jested, as he sat cross-legged behind Elrond. His hands working their way through Elrond's soft dark hair.
"Do not inform my sons, I would never hear the end of it," Elrond admitted smiling.
"Speaking of your sons My Lord, how is it that Lords Glorfindel, Elrohir, and Elladan arrived back with you? How came you across them?" Lindir curiously asked.
"It is quite a peculiar chain of events and I must admit, it was the appearance of the Dwarves which brought us all back together," Elrond replied. He closed his eyes to Lindir's ministrations as he began to tell the younger elf his story.
Elrond felt the wind kissing his cheeks and playfully tangle his ebony hair as he led a small unit of elven warriors towards the southern border. The thrill of a forthcoming battle was written across his face. Elrond by nature was not normally one eager for battle and bloodshed. He had always been a healer before a warrior. Using his hands to save lives not take them, but he made an exception for Orcs. He despised those vile creatures.
His normally passive position towards battle did not mean he was not an expert with the blade. Having grown up in a time of war, from his youth Elrond had been trained and conditioned for battle. It was common knowledge, you did not want to find yourself on the opposing end of Elrond's sword.
The battle at the southern pass had been swift. Elrond felled many beasts. It was a bold move on their part to come so close to his borders. It also worried Elrond. Something must have drawn them near, of what he was not sure. Many years ago he and sons had sent a clear message to any beast that dare come close to Imladris. Mercy would not be shown or given. He would have to strengthen his defenses and advise elves against leaving the valley until he was sure it would be safe.
Elrond's sharp eyes scanned the dwindling battle scene. None of his warriors suffered any mortal injuries. A younger elf had been tackled by a warg and thrown from his horse. He suffered a broken arm and a cracked rib, but would survive. Elrond had quickly ended that warg's life, coming to the aid of the young warrior.
The elven warriors had gathered around their Lord, waiting obediently for their orders. A few were holding the banners of Imladris that had been discarded in the moment of battle, hiding their faces. It was then that Elrond noticed something odd.
"I believe I left Imladris with fifteen warriors, I seem to have gained three. Show your faces," Elrond commanded.
"My Lord Elrond, it is a rare sight to see you ride out to battle," one of the mystery elves replied. He removed the banner from in front of his face, reveling himself to be Glorfindel.
Elrond's face broke out into a huge smile. "My friend, Well met!" Elrond exclaimed. He approached the golden haired elf, trapping him in a giant informal bear hug. "It has been four cycles of the moon since I last saw you. I was beginning to think you would not return."
"I was beginning to think that myself, Elrond," Glorfindel replied, to which Elrond raised an eyebrow.
"Círdan is set in his ways as always," Glorfindel continued. "You know how anxious the Teleri gets when he is away from the Sea. He wished to journey by river, a most tedious route. One that takes thrice as long than overland land. He could see how restless I was becoming and had suggested I ride ahead. May the Valar praise Erestor's patience."
"That explains much," Elrond thoughtfully replied. Círdan rarely left his home in the Grey Havens. Only for important matters like the White Council would he willing leave his beloved ocean.
"Though Elrond I must admit I am rather disappointed. I leave Imladris for a short while and you allow orcs to come this close to our borders?" Glorfindel jested.
Elrond was about to reply in his defense when he was cutoff by another.
"Uncle Círdan is coming?" the elf said. Elrond instantly recognized that voice and turned to the direction of its owner.
"Elladan? Elrohir?" Elrond questioned not believing his sons had returned. The two elves removed the banners from their faces revealing themselves to be the twin sons of Elrond. Elrond threw an arm around each of them, embracing them for a long while. He did not care he was audience to the other warriors. Elrond was speechless and almost moved to tears. He had not seen his sons in almost a full cycle of the seasons. It was some time before Elrond composed himself enough to release his sons. How he missed them.
"It is good to be home Adar."
"We had a been tracking a band of warg riders and were surprised when they lead us to where our hearts most desired to be."
"And seeing so how elegantly Glorfindel put it we will not be willing to leave home for quite some time."
"Speaking of tracking," Glorfindel started, causing everyone to turn his way. " I stumbled up upon a most interesting sight on my way here. Earlier this morning I came upon a party of Dwarves led by Mithrandir. I had been following them most of the day. They entered Imladris through the Hidden Pass just as you had arrived. It seems as though you saved them."
"Dwarves you say? Interesting," mused Elrohir. "It has been quite some time since our eyes lay rest upon the sight of Dwarves. Do you know of them Adar?"
"Hmm Mithrandir had told me he would be journeying with a few companions. I wonder what their purpose is. Dwarves normally do not come to Imladris without reason."
"Who have you got in charge of Imladris?" Glorfindel asked. "All the usual suspects are currently abroad."
"Oh Valar, Lindir! I must head back at once," Elrond exclaimed. "I need ten volunteers to stay behind to clean this mess up," Elrond said looking around at the battle scene distastefully. "Glorfindel, Elladan, Elrohir and any seriously injured shall return with me," he added narrowing down the victims forced to stay. The process of collecting and piling up a bunch of orc and warg carcasses to be burnt, was not a task any warrior particularly enjoyed.
"The world works in strange ways, does it not Lindir?" Elrond thoughtfully asked as he finished his tale.
"It does my Lord. Who would have thought that a party of Dwarves could lead both your sons and Lord Glorfindel back home," Lindir responded as he handed Lord Elrond a towel. "I am interested to learn their reasons for coming here. For some odd reason Thorin Oakenshield was most displeased."
"That is true Lindir, but out of the group it is the Hobbit I am interested in. It has been many ages since I had last seen a Hobbit. It is rare for them to travel outside the shire. I wonder what his reasons are for traveling with thirteen Dwarves as companions."
"Before today I had never seen a Hobbit," confessed Lindir.
"Then come, I need someone to stand at my side while I dine with them."
Lindir beamed at the invitation. Normally normally one of Lord Elrond's sons would stand at his side. Lindir was honored that Lord Elrond would ask this of him. Though Lindir would never openly admit it he was excited. Before today he had never seen a Dwarf either.
A/N: *I am well aware that Círdan is not actually Elladan and Elrohir's uncle. 'Uncle' in this case is used as a term of endearment.