Chapter Seventy-Three
(everything is spoken in Elvish)

~ Lord Elrond ~
"Lady Kiria," I greeted, inclining my head to her.

She smiled and curtsied in turn. "Lord Elrond. Please, come in."

Her entire expression bespoke relaxation and happiness, and it was quite easy to pinpoint the cause – her husband, Elessar, who lay in the bed, alive and present, if not unscathed.

Elessar sat up as I entered. He was so close to Aragorn in appearance that – had I taken away the fact that he bore no Elessar, still suffered from numerous injuries from his time in the dungeons of Sauron, and wore a wedding ring on his finger – I could almost believe that it was Aragorn sitting before me. He had the same shoulder-length dark brown hair, the same pale blue eyes, even the same general air of power and wisdom that set him apart from normal Men.

I could easily see where Eldarion had gotten his traits from now. His mother had passed on the spirit and nobility of Rohan's royal line, but it was from Elessar that Eldarion had inherited his grace and familiarity with weapons.

"Lord Elessar," I said. "Welcome to Minas Tirith of the Fourth Age. I am Lord Elrond."

"You are known to me, Lord," Elessar replied, inclining his head gently in acknowledgement. "Our people have always remembered those whose blood has graced our line, and you most especially, along with your daughter, Arwen Undómiel."

"Perhaps. But in the end, it was your own resilience that led the continuation of our line."

Kiria sat by her husband's side and took his hand. "Enough, my Lord. Let us not waste Lord Elrond's time," she said gently.

"It is no waste of time; but nor, I am afraid, am I hear to exchange trivial pleasantries."

I then proceeded with my original intent, and examined Elessar to ensure that his recovery was going well. He seemed fine, quite to my surprise, and seemed to be recovering faster than most did. But then again, most prisoners that survived Sauron's grasp tended to be stronger anyways and Elessar also had the inherited advantage of the hardiness of Elves.

"You are doing very well," I finally concluded. "You are very lucky, Elessar."

He smiled. "I know I am."

We exchanged a few more minor comments before I decided it was time to leave. But as I rose, pleading my excuses, I could not help but catch the uneasiness that flashed across Elessar's face.

I hesitated. "Is there a problem?"

"No, my Lord."

"Elessar, you are no burden to me or my House," I said gently, easily understanding the hesitation on his face. It seems that this is where Estel and Eldarion got this from. "If there is an issue that I can help with, I would like to know."

"It is just . . ." He paused again. "It's my daughters."

I sank back into my chair with a frown. I had seen Estel and Tinúviel this very morning, in the Great Hall with Aragorn, Legolas, Haldir, and quite a few other people. It had been the first time I had seen Eldarion and Tinúviel, and the similarities between them and Aragorn and Arwen, respectively, had been astonishing. But I had sensed no problems there; on the contrary, I had not believed they could be happier than they had seemed then.

"What could be wrong with them?" I asked.

Kiria exchanged a weary look with her husband. "My husband would like your opinion on Legolas of Mirkwood and Haldir of Lothlórien," she said.

I barely contained my surprise. Elessar had mentioned his daughters beforehand, and I knew of his daughters' connections for the two. I had seen quite clearly the way Haldir and Tinúviel were in love, and Legolas and Estel too.

"Why?"

Elessar leaned forward. "Eldarion has told me of their affections for my daughters. I would like to know of the ones who presume such without a father's approval."

I contained my frown. Ah. . . So this is what troubles him. "Before I divulge that, Elessar, let me ask you something: Are you aware of the differing standards between Elves and Men in terms of courting?"

He could only stare.

"Ah. I presume not then. . .Very well. As I understand it, Haldir and Tinúviel are . . . well . . . very much like Beren and Lúthien, in their own way – love at first sight, I believe is what you call it. Haldir has refused to cross to Valinor with the others until the time when he can no longer be with Tinúviel here. I fear he will remain here until he cannot bear to remember her death.

"As to Legolas – what do you wish to know? I would assume that your own stories bear enough for you to know, as he is one of the members of the Fellowship."

"Stories," Elessar countered, "tell you of one's achievements, not one's personality. And it is one's personality, Lord Elrond, that decides what kind of man, and therefore what kind of husband, he is. Surely you would know that."

I studied Elessar. For one who had spent years languishing in the dungeons of Sauron, he seemed remarkably clear-headed – enough to worry for the safety of his daughters and their hearts, at any rate. His eyes were honest, open, and beseeching; he was trusting too.

It seems this family will keep reminding what about Men makes them special. . . It seems Estel was right. I cannot give up on them yet; they still have much to learn, yes, but also much to give.

"Very well. I fear that my stories will be biased though; surely you recall that Legolas spent some years of his childhood roaming Imladris as he roamed Mirkwood?"

Elessar waved it aside. "I trust your judgment, Lord Elrond. If there is one thing our stories call you, it is not loremaster – it is that you had an unparalleled ability to judge one's character, Man or Elf."

I tried to describe Legolas as best as I could.

It wasn't easy.

Legolas was almost like a second son to me, even though in his later years he had retreated to tend to Mirkwood and had come but rarely to Imladris. But then again, Elves had long memories. Perhaps not perfect memories, but I knew that I had but to close my eyes, and I would be able to call up the image of Legolas a child again without any effort.

When I was done, Elessar was silent for a long time. I looked to Kiria, but her eyes were fixed on her husband.

Finally, he stirred. "Perhaps," he murmured, "I should speak to them myself."

"Perhaps you should," I agreed. "Only, remember always that the ways of courtship are not the same when considering the way it would be done among the First Kindred and the Second. But Legolas and Haldir would never do anything to endanger your daughters. If you trust me as a judge of character, and if there was one thing I would ask you to trust me in without hesitation, it would be that. We do not court the same, but we, at least, love the same – with the same dignity, respect, and devotion. That, I think, is the same across all the Children of Ilúvatar, Elves or Men."

Elessar seemed to relax somewhat. "Thank you, Lord Elrond Peredhel," he murmured, using my title for the first time.

I might have waved it off, as I usually wont to do; but not this time. It was, I knew, a sign of his faith, his trust, and his respect for me. To tell him not to would be to tell him to disobey everything that made him who he was – me included, for my blood was his blood.

I inclined my head. "Lord Elessar. Lady Kiria." And I took my leave.

~ Kiria ~
When Lord Elrond left, I looked to my husband. He seemed so . . . worried about Estel and Tinúviel. Never mind the fact that they were grown; never mind the fact that they were surrounded only by those who wished them well, like Eldarion and Aragorn and Lord Elrond; never mind the fact that his biggest concern right now should be himself, and healing.

But then again, that was who my husband was.

I placed my hand on his. "Have you decided what you are going to do?" I asked quietly.

He sighed and leaned against his pillows, closing his eyes. "I think," he said, "I will need more time. . . I trust Lord Elrond, and Estel and Tinúviel, but . . ."

"I know," I said softly. I laughed quietly. "It seems only but yesterday in our memory that they were but little children, and Tinúviel just entering the stages of courtship, and Estel saying she never wanted to married."

Elessar smiled faintly. "Our little warrior princess."

"Yes."

We were silent for a long time after that. We didn't need to speak. Our memories were bittersweet enough. There was no need to speak of what the other already knew in their heart.

We were imagining our girls, our Tinúviel and Estel, our fine lady and warrior princess. They had changed so much, grown up so much – sometimes I could barely recognize them. Most times I could barely recognize them. They were at once part of us and something far greater than us, somehow I just knew it.

But first, they would need a chance to grow.

"Elessar."

"Hmm?"

I leaned forward. "Elessar, it's time. We can't hold on to them forever. It's been so long. They've grown up, Elessar, they've changed. We've changed."

He opened his eyes wearily. "You're ready to let them go?" he asked softly. "We lost them for so long and you're ready to just . . . part ways, just like that? With half a good-bye and a gaze already fixed on . . . someone else?"

"You can say their names, you know."

"Legolas and Haldir. Them." He sighed and shook his head with a helpless chuckle. "Lord Elrond called it 'love at first sight'. I saw that. It's not what concerns me."

"Then what does?"

"Estel."

"She's dealt with more than anyone in this family," I reminded him. "She was the last, Elessar; she heard of our deaths, she saw deaths, she was enslaved, she was tortured, she was violated. She lost everything she had to give but her life – but by then, it was the one thing she would have parted with the most gladly.

"I . . ." I looked down. "I've seen her with Legolas, Elessar. He makes her happy. Even when she was a child, she's never smiled, she's never smiled, she's never been so . . . alive as she is around her. He completes her. He's part of her in a way we will never be. And if you take that from her . . . well, she might not be able to give away one more thing. There's only so much someone can lose before you can't take it anymore."

"Kiria. . ." Elessar leaned towards me, taking my hands. "Kiria, I know of what you speak. But consider this a father's concern."

"A mother has concerns too. I've settled them already. Why can't you trust me, and Lord Elrond, and Estel? You saw her. Was she unhappy?"

"No, but – "

"Did her affection seemed forced?"

"No, but – "

'Did she seem like she was hurting in any way?"

"No, but – "

I sighed. "Did it seem like she loved him? Was content enough with him and him alone? As if . . . As if she could love him forever, could live with choosing him, could bind herself to him and not regret it for a single second of the remainder of her life?"

"I . . . yes."

I kissed him on the cheek. "Then, my Lord, if you still feel concern about Legolas, there is only one way you can settle it: Talk to Legolas yourself. Tomorrow, if you like. The sooner you settle this, the better."