Disclaimer: See previous chapter
Disclaimer: See previous chapter
Note: Firstly, many thanks to Dawn Searcher for suggesting an alternative to wind! My brain was refusing to function at that point in the chapter but I do realize that it sounded as though the stronghold of Morgoth had a bad case of flatulence! I did laugh when I read it over again.
Secondly, I had originally intended to bring this story to a close within a couple of chapters, but then I realized that because Kim and Eonwe's story carries on, I had to bring together all of the characters readers (and myself) have come to know and like. So I am trying to deal with all of them, give them all a chance to close their particular chapter in the tale and at the same time set out the problems facing both Eonwe and Kim and those immediately surrounding them.
The quote below means nothing specific nor is it relevant to this chapter, it just made me laugh!
"Charlotte: So, how are you?
Carrie: I'm good, how are you?
Charlotte: Great.
Carrie: I told Aidan about the affair and he broke up with me.
Charlotte: Trey and I never had sex on our honeymoon.
Carrie: You win. (pause) So should we get more coffee or should we get two guns and kill ourselves?"
-- Sex and the City
Chapter 63 – The General, the Valar and the Darkness
The Residence of the General Officer Commanding 4 Division, Aldershot, present day
The General alighted from his car outside the Residence and dismissed his driver. Five minutes later he was wishing he hadn't. It wasn't that he was a man who was easily scared, but something in the way Mugger's hackles were rising and the low growl in his throat told him that there were intruders.
He took out his mobile phone and prepared to speed dial the RMP station. Mugger scampered on ahead and disappeared.
"Mugger…come back here to me boy." He tried not to raise his voice and draw attention to the fact that he and the dog had arrived back home, although if they were any kind of intelligent burglar or terrorist they should have seen the lights from the car and heard him slam the door and say goodnight to the driver.
Mugger however blithely ignored his master's voice and the General could hear him whining and scratching at the front door. Well, so much for a stealthy entrance to catch them in the act, he thought ruefully. He was just pleased that his wife was away for the weekend at her sister's house.
As he cautiously turned the corner on the pathway leading up to the front porch, he was surprised to see a soft glow from the main living room window, as though his wife had left a lamp on. Unusual for her if she had, she was a termagant when it came to saving power. She even switched lights off while he was sitting reading through his papers!
Now that was unusual. People with ill intent didn't generally switch a light on and blatantly advertise their presence.
Mugger was now barking, high sharp imperative barks which usually indicated that the person inside was someone he knew and who would let him in so that he could raid his biscuit bowl.
As the General stepped onto the porch the little dog looked up at him expectantly. The hackles were down and he seemed eager to get in the house. Of course it could be the head chef from the Mess bringing a meal over from the kitchen which often happened if his military PA remembered that the General's wife was going away somewhere.
He stood on the doorstep pondering whether he should just brave the unknown, open the door and go in with guns blazing…not that he had a gun, but his finger was on the speed dial ready to go, or perhaps he should just call them now.
Mugger barked again and the General decided to just go in, he could hardly stand dithering on the doorstep for the rest of the night anyway. It was all probably quite innocent. Competent terrorists did not leave lights on. They went in, did their business and got out, quickly and silently. If it was his time to go, then so be it. Burglars, by their very nature, were a little bit more messy, and they might leave a light on by mistake, but they would hardly stick around to wait for the householder to come home.
And whoever it was that was in his home was still there because he could hear footsteps in the passage.
He took out his key and prepared to unlock, but as he did so the front door suddenly opened to reveal a tall elderly man with shoulder length grey hair and a grey beard and surprisingly young looking bright blue eyes. He took a step forward and beamed at the General, who took a step back, grey eyebrows beetling together in confusion.
"Ah." The man chuckled. "Do I have the pleasure of addressing the much feared General Officer Commanding this military division?" Mugger took this moment to give an hysterical bark and he leapt up into the intruder's arms and starting licking him and fussing as though this was some long lost friend. The man laughed and submitted to having his face washed, then he pointed at the dog and shook his head, whereupon Mugger subsided, but his tail was revolving in a full circle like a helicopter rotor arm.
"You might." The General said cautiously. Mugger obviously saw nothing sinister in this man, quite the opposite in fact and in truth he rather liked the twinkle in the chap's eyes. "Are we acquainted?" He stepped past the man and into the large hallway, dropping his briefcase onto the hall table and hanging his cap on the hook before heading in to the lounge.
"Not directly." The man stepped through to the lounge behind the General, still holding an ecstatic Mugger who was being scratched behind the ears in exactly that pesky spot he could never quite reach. "However I believe I have a fairly long acquaintance with Major Matthews and his wife and indeed a fairly deep acquaintance with Chief Knowles."
He said nothing more, but remained standing with Mugger in his arms and a smile quirking the corners of his lips. The General turned to look at him properly and it was then for the first time that he noticed the glow that emanated from his erstwhile intruder.
"You…you're from that place." He said quietly.
The man laughed merrily and his bright blue eyes twinkled. "If by 'that place' you mean Valinor, then yes, I am very much afraid that I am, my name is Olorin and I am a Maia of the people of Manwe, although I tend to do more for my Lord Irmo these days than I do for Lord Manwe."
The General was completely taken aback. If everything that Knowles and the others who had been there through that rift in time had told him in their debriefing was true, then this 'being' before him was a sort of angel. At the very least a celestial being of power and indeed of light, since he carried that light within him.
Whatever he was, he was most certainly not a terrorist…or a burglar. Olorin laughed softly as he came to that decision in his mind, almost as though he knew what the General was thinking, but he said nothing.
He switched his mobile phone off and put it down on the table, an action that did not escape the sharp eyes of the Maia. "Well, I assume that you are here for an important reason. Can I offer you something to drink or eat? I suppose you have come quite a way." He gestured for Olorin to sit down which he did. Mugger sighed with contentment and settled himself down firmly on the Maia's knee.
"Nothing for me thank you." Olorin beamed at him. "Your cook was in earlier and was kind enough to make me some tea and find me some quite delicious cake to go with it."
The General chuckled. "I see you have a way of wheedling yourself into everyone's good graces!"
Olorin laughed outright at that. "It would seem so, although others have described it less delicately on occasions. As for the distance I have travelled, yes, I imagine it would seem a long way for your kind, but for me it was the time it took to have a thought. But please do feel free to see to your own meal. I understand one has been left plated for you in something called a 'microwave' in your kitchen."
Half an hour later, having been fed and watered, the General was settled in his usual armchair, facing his guest. Mugger had been safely ensconced now in his basket with his favourite chew toy and his blanket.
"So, I take it this is not just social call." The General leant forward in his chair slightly. "To what do I owe the honour of a visit from the celestial powers that be? Is that rapscallion Matthews ready to make his appearance back over here yet? Because I can tell you that his lovely wife is not far from dropping that sprog of theirs. The longer he stays away, the bigger the explanation he'll have to give her."
Olorin cackled with glee inside at the notion of the tall impressive and mighty Herald being called a rapscallion. That one would cause some laughter among the other Maiar. "Rapscallion is it?" He chuckled out loud. "Well bless my soul! But yes, it is almost time for him to return which is, of course, why I am here. However I should tell you that I am only a messenger on this occasion and I am come to you with an invitation."
"What kind of invitation?" The General's tone was perplexed.
Olorin smiled at him. "I have been instructed by my Lord Manwe to cordially invite you to visit with him and his fellow Valar. I am also instructed to tell you that as the hour for Lord Eonwe…er Major Matthew's return approaches, it is necessary for you to be taken into their confidence, since you will…ah…have certain power and influence over this matter, on this side of the Straight Road. The Valar therefore wish to take advice with you on this."
The General's breath suddenly expelled sharply, leaving him with a slightly deflated feeling. He could hardly believe his ears. Celestial beings, angels or whatever they called themselves wanted to consult with him?
"I would have thought that they could do anything they wished whenever they wished it." He said bluntly. "My input could hardly be of any importance."
"Ah, but you see, we…they…cannot interfere in the free will of mortal man. Our time on this side of the Straight Road is long since over, the time of men came into its own and the Elves left these shores. The Valar renounced their lordship over events here, and although they were instructed to keep an eye on things by Eru, they feel that they do not have the remit to physically interfere with mortal lives." Olorin's voice was sad. "We, those of us of the Ainur and those of the Eldar, are bound to Arda until the end; we do not have free will as mortals know it. It was thought that once the world of men came into its own, we could then withdraw, hence our reluctance to become involved."
The General sighed. "I am not sure that we have been the better off for the non-interference policy, but I can see why they decided on it. I should tell you that my time as a senior ranking member of the military is very much tied up from day to day. How long would this meeting take? I suppose it would take me some time to get there since I can hardly travel the same way you do."
Olorin gazed at him intently. He could see that the General was a genuinely good, God-fearing man. He was taking all of this in his stride and obviously treating it seriously. Olorin had been concerned that he would have more convincing to do, possibly from behind bars if the General had taken him for some raving lunatic.
"Time in Valinor passes differently to the way time passes here in Middle Earth. Although it would seem to you that you were away for a long time, in truth it would only be a few hours of mortal time. As for the travel, I have special dispensation from Eru to take you with me swiftly and in thought. For this Eru will cause you to be temporarily unclad."
The General's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Naked? Dear god in heaven, I am not sure the world is ready for that sight!"
Olorin shook with laughter. "By unclad, I mean unclad of flesh General, not unclad of clothes. When we reach our destination you will become corporeal again and you will be wearing whatever you had on when we departed."
He found himself speared by the General's keen gaze and it struck him that in many ways, the General and the Herald of Manwe were very much alike. Eonwe, as Gary Matthews, obviously had the General's respect and that was essential because of the part he would have to play in the Herald's safe return to continue with the task as set him by Eru Iluvator.
"You mean now don't you?" The General asked softly.
Olorin met his gaze full on. "I am afraid so." He said gently.
"I can't leave Mugger on his own."
Olorin inclined his head. "Of course not and as it happens I have just the person to stay with him until you return."
As he spoke a tall young man, hitherto unnoticed, although how he had remained so was anyone's guess, appeared in the room. That was the signal for more effusive welcoming on Mugger's part. He jumped out of his basket and flung himself at the young man's long legs.
The newcomer was tall, slender and obviously not human at all. A glow also emanated from his pale luminous skin, not as strong a glow as from the Maia, but there nonetheless. His hair was a rich deep red colour, not ginger, but a genuine red, the like of which the General had never seen with or without a bottle of hair dye. His eyes were bright and green and his features were just inhuman enough to startle. When he bent down to pick the little dog up his long shining hair fell away across his face enough for the General to see that his ears were leaf-shaped and delicately pointed.
Olorin gracefully indicated him. "This is Nelyafinwe, son of Feanor. He is come to Middle Earth on the instruction of Eru and Lord Namo, Doomsman of he Valar to make reparation for past misdeeds. Once he has paid his dues he will be allowed to return to the Blessed Realm and take his place with his kin once more. You will find that Detective Chief Inspector Davies knows him very well and in fact he has been staying with the Inspector and his family. When he heard of my task, he volunteered to come and help."
"How do you do?" The General said politely. He was now quite sure that if he had any more shocks that evening he would be spending his time permanently at the Pearly Gates of Heaven, never mind visiting with the Angels for a few hours. "You're sure you don't mind looking after him while I'm gone? He can be a bit of a naughty little bugger. The Postman hates him. He runs up the path, throws the post on the mat and dashes back out again. If Mugger is loose he'd have his ankles as chew toys."
Nelyafinwe laughed, a lovely musical sound, and inclined his head. "I can assure you that the postman's ankles will be intact when you return General." His brilliant green eyes were alight with amusement. Like Olorin, his English was immaculate.
"Well… if you're sure… I had better notify the guard that you are staying the night then. Wouldn't want you and Mugger to end up in jail." He picked up the telephone, dialed and explained about his guest to the person who answered. Once he had put the phone down he turned to Nelyafinwe. "So you know Alun do you? Good sort of bloke, Mugger loves him. I haven't heard from him since his return though, is he well?"
The elf hesitated slightly and glanced at Olorin who nodded imperceptibly, as if giving permission for him to speak. "He is… as well as can be expected, although he has not been so. It has improved slightly though. I have been able to expel some of the darkness surrounding him."
The General coloured slightly. He cleared his throat. "Ah..yes, I had heard through the grapevine that he's been a little troubled since his return. Something to do with the way he was taken to…that other place I understand. I am guessing that you have been sent to help him?"
The elf inclined his head again. "I have and it is my pleasure to do so. Just as it will be my pleasure to look after this little one for you."
"Well, as long as Alun is okay to leave alone. Just help yourself to any food you might want, if you get hungry." The General sounded a little doubtful.
Nelyafinwe caught his gaze and held it. "My thanks General. Alun is fine and my brother is with him and his family. We are well used to this darkness and it will not come while we are there I can assure you."
Olorin cleared his throat. "General, we should go…"
The General twisted around and looked at the Maia. "Ah…yes…of course. What do I do? Do I need to do anything?"
Olorin smiled reassuringly and held out his hand. "Nothing at all, just take my hand."
ooOoo