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Chapter 22
It was evening. Eruanna was still in the branches of the Huorn, the large limbs curled around her protectively so that she wouldn't fall out. She had spent that time fingering the sigil e-hered and thinking over many things, not the least being her wish for the war to end and the upcoming battle. She was as safe as she could be, but she naturally worried for Olòrin and whoever else was in the battle.
But as soon as night fell and Isil rose in the sky, the Huorns began to stir themselves. Eruanna raised her head, looking around her in the Unseen realm. With a start, she realized that the vines around her arms and legs were also Huorns that had chosen the form of vines, and they smiled at her, albeit a bit frostily. She smiled back faintly.
*We leave.* And without further ado, she lurched as the Huorn began to move, all of them moving in one direction as though be mutual consent. She clutched a branch in front of her, looking around in confusion. She soon realized their method of travel, however, as the further and faster they went, the clearer it became.
Like the elves sometimes did, they clothed themselves in shadows and darkness and moved swiftly, seeming like a passing shadow to those who happened to see them. She knew that if the hobbits asked, Treebeard would tell them that she was going somewhere on her own task. She had no fear for them, for indeed, were not Ents the oldest and some of the strongest things on Arda? Were trolls not said to be Melkor's mockery of them? She had no need to fear for them.
She knew, however, that their trip would be long and tedious and boring, so to pass the time, she closed her eyes to fall into a true sleep, shunning the Path of Dreams in favor for the deeper sleep. She suddenly felt a familiar ache in her heart and reached up absently to rub it, not even registering what she was doing. The ache was always there, sudden pangs of grief and dulled pain. Sometimes she would even feel old wounds flare to life on her back, and as always there was the mark on her arm. The vines, however, had made sure to cover it up with their leaves and tendrils, for which she was grateful.
As she fell asleep, she began to dream, not knowing that someone had inspired her to fall asleep for that very reason. As she dreamed, her thoughts returned to Faramir, who had haunted her mind for the past several days ever since her vision.
Faramir was once more in front of her, staring above her head. But he did not seem to see her. She frowned and turned, trying to see what he was obviously seeing. Her eyes landed upon the sight of Mordor near at hand, Mount Orodruin retching fire and molten rock like bile from the depths of the tortured earth.
She blanched, reaching up to grasp her arm and rub it absently as pain flared. She turned away, back to Faramir, to see that he was now sitting down, and they were in a different room. He was pouring over a map, and Eruanna walked up to him, peering down at the map on his lap as well.
Her shadow suddenly fell over the paper where it hadn't been before. Faramir visibly started and looked up, his face mutating to shock as he saw her for the first time. Eruanna, realizing that this was more than a normal dream, smiled softly at the young man, seeing his face up close for the first time.
Faramir stared at her, his pale face gaining a hint of color the longer he studied her. She studied him keenly, discerning him as Ciaran had taught her. His face was open and frank, if wearied and sorrowful, and his eyes were clear, if burdened with many heavy weights and sorrows. But there was something there that lurked in his eyes that she instinctively liked.
She reached up with a small hand, tracing her fingers against his cheek softly. The young man let out a gasp and shuddered at the tender touch, tears running down his cheeks.
"W-Who are you?" He stammered wonderingly, almost hesitantly, as though if he spoke she would disappear.
Eruanna shook her head gently, reaching out and touching his mind gently. *A friend, Faramir. Why does your heart weep?* She queried softly. His eyes became wet.
"My brother... Is... Dead." He hung his head, just as a stricken look crossed her face before smoothing into grief. So lady Galadriel had been right. He had been... In danger. But she knew that her grief was pale in comparison to Faramir's.
She took his face gently in her small hands, patting his cheeks tenderly with an encouraging smile as she peeped under his hair and saw his face. He reached up with a hesitant hand, swallowing as he touched one of hers.
*Keep faith. You shall meet again one day, Faramir. Make him proud by carrying on, and know that somewhere, there is someone who loves you, whether or not you know it or not.* Was her simple answer, and then her hands slid away. He looked up, and she plucked a single gem from her belt, pressing it into his hand.
*So that you may remember my words.* She smiled, and then everything began to fade away. She continued sleeping, unaware that all the while, Faramir sat there staring down at the small amethyst in his hands, a symbol of delicate hope, loyal love, and undying devotion, with tears running unheeded down his cheeks.
When she finally awoke, all thoughts of her dream were pushed to the back of her mind as she saw that the Huorns were now still, though it was still night. She peered through the foliage of the Huorn into the sky and saw that Isil was lying quite low, and a faint blush was rising over the opposite horizon.
Looking forwards, she stifled a gasp. They had obviously arrived at Helms Deep. A large stone fortress stood in front of her, and in front of it, laying siege, were thousands upon thousands of orcs and wild men, of whom she had never seen but heard of. Orcs she had seen plenty of, and she was not affected by the sight of them. But there were so many.
The Huorns were still. Olòrin would come, and he would know what to do. He would drive the orcs into the forest, and her army would do the rest. It was now only a matter of time. She sat back down contemplatively, thinking to pass the time.
Soon, dawn rose.
She was jolted out of her thoughts by the sound of orcs jeering. Peering out, she stifled a gasp to see Aragorn standing on the wall, hand outstretched in parlay. The orcs jeered, though she could not hear what was being said. Some of the wild men suddenly looked fearful, peering back to see something, but the orcs merely bent their bows and sent Aragorn leaping off of the wall for his life.
Eruanna wrung her hands, biting her lips in an agony of worry. Not an hour later, there was the sudden sound of horns. Her head jerked up to see the Rohirrim charging, horns blowing so loudly that she flinched, and a loud roar that met her ears and sent shivers down her spine. She watched as the men clashed with the orcs. Orcs and wild men alike cowered before the hosts, for fear had come upon them with the rising of the new day.
At the great dike, a kingly man who had led the charge stopped along with several others, looking down at the Huorns with amazement. Eruanna retreated a bit, even though she knew that they could not see her.
The enemy cowered and sought escape, but there was none. For even as she looked, on the west ridge a figure approached, white and riding upon a white horse. Eruanna clapped her hands in joy to see Mithrandir and Shadowfax, and a moment later the wizard was joined by more figures which she could tell were reinforcements.
And with a shout, they charged. And oh, the charge was glorious. Mithrandir lifted his staff, and with it came Anor over the ridge, its rays blinding and bright in terrifying beauty; a symbol of hope and a rising dawn for the Rohirrim. Both sides met in a roar and wild clash of steel that left her senses reeling.
The smell of blood and metal filled her nose, and she gasped, fighting off the urge that suddenly welled up in her to join them, to go on, to loose herself in the headiness of the battle-
And then she came back to reality with a sickening jolt as the orcs began to run, screaming in madness and terror, under the branches of the Huorns. She watched them go by underneath her, shuddering in repulsion at their hideousness that was amplified by their gibbering fear and hate.
"Do not near the forest!" Mithrandir's voice wafted to her ears, and she peered through the thicket of leaves to see that everyone had stopped. A few moments after the last orc had passed under the branches, the Huorns threw themselves into action.
Eruanna closed her eyes, fighting the urge to gag as the sound of screams and the snapping of broken bones filled the air. She put her head between her knees, breathing deeply. It was well. It was alright. Things would be well. She was going to be just fine, the orcs could not hurt her.
How much later she could not tell, but soon she realized that there was an almost unearthly silence again. She lifted her head slowly, color returning back to her cheeks.
*They are destroyed, Díllothel.* Came the whisper. She patted the branches.
*Thank you.* Her voice was suffused with thankfulness and relief, and her thanks was received by the Huorns with satisfaction and no small amount of smugness, to which she could not help but smile.
Aragorn, Legolas, Mithrandir, and the King of Rohan had gathered nearby the vicinity of the trees by the river to talk. She could hear them well. There was also the man whom she had seen beside Gandalf on the west ridge, and several others who seemed to be lords of import.
Many of the Rohirrim glanced toward the woods with uneasy or dark looks, and she could not help but giggle at their clear suspicion of the Huorns, who she knew cared less. Suddenly, there came walking up to the main group two other figures whom she knew well.
One of them was Gimli, the dwarf who bore a lock of her hair, his head was bandaged with a strip of linen stained red that concerned her, but her fears were soon put to rest with his next words as her face lit up at the sight of the other companion. Haldir! What had she missed, that her dear Marchwarden friend would be here?
"Last count, forty two! Alas, but mine ax has a notch in it; the last had an iron collar." Gimli said, and she stifled a hysterical giggle at the levity.
"You have beat my score by one, but I do not grudge it you, for I am glad to see you well and hale on your stout legs!" Was Legolas' laughing reply as he stroked his bow fondly, the string of her hair gleaming in the light.
The King, whom she now knew as Théoden, exchanged greetings with another named Éomer, his nephew as she gathered.
"Un-looked for?" Gandalf was asking Éomer. "I said I would return, did I not?" The wizard asked, almost with a sense of pettishness that made Aragorn grin.
"But you did not foretell the hour, nor did you tell the manner of your coming. Strange help you bring. You are mighty in wizardry, Gandalf the White!" Éomer replied. The Huorns stirred in amused affront, and Eruanna cracked up silently to herself.
"That may be so, but if true, I have not shown it yet. I have but given good council in peril, and made use of the speed of Shadowfax. Your own valor and the speed of your men have done more." Was the reply.
Some of the men glanced at the woods again, some even passing a hand over their eyes as though doubting those fallible organs. Gandalf threw back his head and laughed, unconsciously mirroring Eruanna's reactions.
"The trees? Nay, I see them as plainly as you do. But that is no deed of mine. It is a thing beyond the council of the wise that live on these shores, better than my design, and better even than the hope I had held. It was brought to pass by one far older than you, and yet far younger in some ways than the youngest of you here." Was the wizard's enigmatic reply to their doubt. Eruanna rolled her eyes at the riddle.
"Then if it is not your wizardry, than whose? Not Saruman's, that is plain enough. Is there some mighty sage that we have yet to learn of?" Théoden King asked.
"It is no wizardry, but rather a power far older than you and the creation of Rohan, which has had many trials but has come out of them all the brighter for it, as gold that has passed through the fire. And indeed, even sufferings have brought about friendship and the devotion of the trees." Gandalf said with no little satisfaction, and the Huorns had the pleasure of seeing the elfling blush.
"And will we not see this being, Mithrandir? For I dearly would wish to satisfy my curiosity that has been raised by your statement." Legolas suggested hopefully. Mithrandir smiled.
"Ah, but that is not my will to dictate, young Legolas. You know very well that trust is not freely given, and that I command none against their free will. If they wish to meet you, then they will show themselves." The white wizard replied promptly, lighting his pipe with Aragorn's and joining he and Gimli for a smoke. Haldir looked suspiciously at the wizard, who gave the elf a subtle wink.
Eruanna shrugged. Well, she might as well show herself in accordance with Gandalf's broad hint. Besides which, Haldir might as well be her means of getting back to Lothlòrien. The Huorn set her down at her request, and she raised a hand to them in thanks, which they returned with a rustling of leaves. Her cloak had been left in the branches of the tree.
Eruanna lifted her hand so that the blue aquamarine on her finger flashed in the sunlight, burning like blue fire or the sheen of ice in the sun. Gandalf stirred himself, causing attention to be drawn to him.
"Ah. It seems as though your wish has been chosen to be granted." He said enigmatically, and everyone turned towards the forest expectantly. So albeit a bit nervously, Eruanna shrugged and began to walk with the natural grace of the elves out of the shadow of the trees. There was a gasp that arose as she appeared in their vision.
"What is this? A child of the forest?" She heard Théoden ask in wonder, and she stifled her laughter at the remark that had seemed to become repetitive among men, merely sending them a brilliant smile. Aragorn threw back his head and laughed, startling those around him as Legolas also joined him in his mirth.
"Nay, King Théoden, though many seem to think so!" He chortled as Eruanna reached them. She curtsied to them shallowly in a sign of acknowledgement, and then raised a hand in greeting, her ring conveying her thought into the air so that they could hear her.
"Greetings, Théoden King of Rohan." Her voice, whispery and soft, startled many who listened. "I congratulate you on your victory."
The King bowed his head in thanks as she turned to the members of the fellowship, flashing them all a smile. "And greetings, Estel. My heart rejoices to see you again."
Aragorn placed a hand over his heart, standing to incline his head. "It is my honor to see you again as well, lady Eruanna of the House of the Golden Flower, once of Gondolin that is no more." There were audible gasps from several of the lords at the revelation, though the others merely looked confused. Théoden stared at her in no little wonder.
Then Aragorn threw her cheeky grin. "I trust that your brother is well and has not thrown any tantrums of late?" He asked, and she shook a finger at him in mock-anger as he snickered unrepentantly along with Haldir and Legolas.
"Well." She relented with a wry smile. "He did throw one when Gandalf came to tell him that I was to be taken away from him, but he got over it." She said cheekily, and Aragorn doubled over in laughter.
"He did call you a 'scruffy little mutt' before I left, though..." She added diffidently, and Legolas and Gandalf began to roar at the affronted look on his face as the others looked on in bemusement.
"I hope you have kept my gift well, Legolas Thranduilion?" She added with a smile, to which the prince bowed with a grin.
"I have, my lady. Thank you for your concern." He replied, and she nodded.
"And how have you fared, lock-bearer?" She asked Gimli, a faintly amused smile on her face. "For my thoughts have wandered to you on more than one occasion when I remember the state of mine hair." She said, amusement thickly coloring her tone as the dwarf was seen to blush.
"I have kept your gift well, my lady." Was the gruff reply, and she nodded in satisfaction.
"I do hope that you don't take all the credit for the help of the Huorns, Mithrandir." She sniffed facetiously, winking at the rest of them. "I did have a small part in it, you know." She said pettishly, and the wizard laughed.
"Oh my dear, I would not have dreamed of doing such a thing, for fear that your brother would castigate me a second time." He winked, and her laughter floated through the air, childish and sweet, bringing unconscious smiles to the face of others.
Then she walked to Aragorn, who bent down on his knees to see her, a smile on his worn face. She smiled back and reached up to kiss his brow, and all who saw his face saw some heavy burden fall off of him as he sighed in relief. Then Eruanna turned to Haldir, who immediately stood to attention with a stiff bow, indicating his acknowledgement of her position as his better. She stared at him impeccably for a moment.
"Why do you bow to me, Haldir of Lothlòrien?" Her voice made the men who were there do a double take at the elfling, suddenly realizing that all was not as it seemed. There was an authority in her voice that could not be gainsaid.
Haldir stood firm, though there was insecurity in his eyes. "Because thou art mine lady, my lady, and it is mine prerogative to honor thee by minding mine place and standing as Marchwarden of Lothlòrien and guardian of its lord and ladies." Was his formal reply. Some noticed the ghost of a smile pass across Eruanna's face, though it passed so quickly that they weren't sure if it had truly been there.
After a moment, she spoke. "But I am not thine lady, Haldir, though you may be my protector, in all sense of the word." Then her face relented and softened slightly. "Sit, Haldir, before I decide to mete out punishment for your delinquency in forgetting that." She said with humor, and Haldir just stood there in bewilderment as Aragorn and Legolas and Gandalf muffled their laughter.
Eruanna sighed, rolling her eyes to the heavens. "For lord Bèma's sake, Haldir, what about 'sit down' do you not understand? Now sit, so that you may give me a proper greeting!" She said in no little exasperation, and even King Théoden found himself chuckling at the levity of the elfling's manner. Haldir had the grace to blush as he sat down, muttering to himself.
"How may I rectify my mistake, my lady?" He asked meekly enough, however, though there was a slight smile on his face.
Eruanna then laughed and threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly as she settled herself in his lap comfortably. The Rohirrim burst into roars at the Elf's face, doubling over and slapping each other as Haldir turned several interesting shades of red. Aragorn had tears pouring down his cheeks as Gandalf laughed and winked at the elfling knowingly as she smiled back. The levity had diffused the tension in the air somewhat, and everyone felt a little more lighthearted now after the rigors of battle.
Haldir sighed. Eruanna giggled, reaching up to pat the Elf's cheek with a fond smile that he returned somewhat shyly. Then she stood and shook out her light dress, smiling at them all.
"Of course, Haldir, your ultimate punishment will be to see me back to Lothlòrien safely and somehow manage to smuggle me into the city without my brother knowing." She said with a coy smile, setting Haldir into groans as the remnant of the fellowship went into another fit of amusement at her smug tone.
He sighed. "Duly accepted, my lady. I shall have to be more careful, next time, for now I see that he is not the only one that can mete out terrible punishments." Haldir said gloomily, but Eruanna merely smiled at him with a fondness that he did not see, though many others who saw it wondered at it.
Then she raised her arm to Legolas, who touched his fingers with hers. "I know that you long for communion with the growing things, Legolas. Perhaps this shall do for now." She offered, and the tendril around her arm moved of its own accord to his arm. He bowed in reply and began to silently touch the plant, playing with it as it slithered its way through his fingers and onto his arms. The men looked nonplused.
Eruanna smiled and bowed to them all once more. "I take my leave, men of the Rohirrim. May lord Béma continue to watch over you and your plains that represent all that is free to roam at will, unconcerned for danger. May it be so once again. And perhaps we shall meet once more before the end." She said, and King Théoden stood.
"I thank you, my lady-" he glanced to Aragorn who mouthed the name as Eruanna waited patiently with a slightly amused smile. "Lady Eruanna, for your help in bringing, err, the trees-" he gave them a sardonic look that was met with light laughter. "To our aid. May the powers of the west guide you." He bowed, as did the Rohirrim. Eruanna merely nodded, then turned to Haldir.
"When you find yourself ready, Marchwarden, we shall leave. You will find me in the forest. Do not fear them; they shall suffer you to pass. I take my leave. Mithrandir. Aragorn. Legolas. Gimli." Then she turned and glided away quietly, disappearing into the shadows underneath the canopy of dark trees, tall and stern.
The men watched her go with a mingled sense of relief and wistfulness as the last gleam of her ring glittered at them in farewell, though they could never quite afterwards tell why.
"For a moment, I felt as though I were being smothered by a power that I could not name." Éomer broke the silence thoughtfully, and Gandalf stirred from his ruminations.
"Because you were in the presence of one of the most powerful of the Firstborn to still live in Arda in this Age, Éomer of Rohan. Lady Eruanna is indeed a very dangerous being, should she wish to show you that. It runs in the family." The last rather non sequitur statement made them all blink for a moment, then slowly the implications of his statement sank in.
"How?" Théoden asked, sounding puzzled. Gandalf sighed.
"Well, perhaps a story would do us some good." He acquiesced, and soon the men were listening, enthralled, to the tale of a small elfling whose life had been fraught with suffering, pain, and healing.
By the time they had stirred themselves, it was with a new outlook on life as they went about their duties with thoughtful looks on their faces.
"So when she wished us the blessing of lord Béma... It might have more weight than... Than just polite words." Éomer ventured.
"Yes."
Only Gandalf smiled, thinking to himself of the days to come.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
The Huorns had buried the orc bodies in cairn upon a small knell that was in their midst, covering it with stones of large size. Then they had returned her clothes which she had donned with no little relief, for for all that the white dress was light, she had feared it coming loose. So she had clipped her cloak back on with a sense of gratitude, and then when night came, she had bade them farewell.
They had given her one last wave of their branches before swiftly moving themselves under the cover of shadow back to Fangorn. Eruanna then moved towards the Rohirrim camp she could see that was set up not far away after they had passed through the forest.
It had been all too easy to sneak into the camp under the very noses of the watchmen, for they were rather lax in their guard concerning elflings. Then she had another conundrum to solve: who should she choose to snuggle up to sleep with?
After a moment's deliberation, she had finally chosen Aragorn, though exactly why she couldn't quite tell. She had merely slipped up beside his sleeping roll, and careful not touch him, laid down and fallen asleep.
The next morning when she had woken up, it was in the arms of Aragorn, who was looking down at her with a bewildered look on his face. She smiled up at him sleepily and sat up, rubbing her eyes with a yawn before staggering to her feet and stumbling over to Haldir's bedroll and collapsing on top of him.
Haldir had flown up with a strangled yell, his hands clamping around Eruanna's small form as he snapped awake and looked down at the elfling incredulously. Aragorn woke Gimli and Legolas up with his riotous laughter. Eruanna had ignored it all, merely snuggling further into Haldir, grasping a lock of his silver hair in her hands and sighing in comfort. Haldir didn't know what to do, merely awkwardly trying to shift her around, sending Aragorn into more fits of laughter as Haldir had muttered imprecations at him under his breath.
The Rohirrim were treated to the sight of Aragorn teaching Haldir how to properly hold an elfling, Eruanna patiently allowing herself to be used as an object of lesson through it all with an air of amusement. Many of the men had to stifle hysterical laughter, not knowing what else to think of the sight. Needless to say, Legolas and Gimli had great fun teasing the poor ellon until Eruanna had shut them up with a scathing glare, glomping onto Haldir and declaring that she loved 'her Haldir.' Haldir didn't quite know where to look after that. Gandalf, of course, enjoyed the whole thing probably a little too much.
But the time had finally come for Haldir and Eruanna to make their way back to Lothlòrien and part ways from the Rohirrim. Eruanna had merely given Aragorn a kiss and Legolas a hug, and then she had allowed Haldir to say his farewells before leading him to the edge of the camp, ignoring all of the men who discreetly stared.
Then she had raised her hand, the ring on her finger glittering brightly in the sunlight. A moment later, there was the sound of neighing on the wind, and a white horse came swiftly over the plains as Haldir stood guard, a small smile on his face as he watched the guards goggle over the horse that ran up.
Eruanna ran forwards towards the thundering horse, causing the guards to gasp in consternation, though Haldir did nothing. Asfaloth swerved at the last moment, prancing around and around the spinning elfling who had a wide smile on her face as she finally reached out her arms to hug the nose of the giant white horse. The poor men didn't know how to react, though King Théoden, standing by, smiled at the sight.
Then to their surprise, Asfaloth knelt, and Eruanna climbed onto his back easily as he snorted and got back up, tossing his head. Eruanna patted his head and then pointed to Haldir. The horse obediently, if haughtily, picked his way gingerly over to the elf, who bowed.
"Will you allow me to ride you, fair Asfaloth of Aman, steed of lord Béma?" He asked, speaking in Westron on purpose. The men who were listening gaped. Eruanna raised an amused eyebrow at him which he returned with a wink as she giggled. Asfaloth shook his mane impatiently as though to say, 'what are you waiting for, stupid elf? Hurry up!'
"Forgive me, Asfaloth. I'm hurrying." Haldir apologized, swinging up onto the horse's bare back behind Eruanna. Then with a whinny as Haldir bent over his neck, the horse wheeled and took off, galloping across the plains. Aragorn and Legolas, coming to stand next to the speechless men, raised their gemstones so that they glittered in the light, and were rewarded with a returning flash of blue.
So Eruanna and Haldir made their way back towards their home- but their return was not to be as pleasant as they hoped.
LOTRLOTRLOTR
"She did very well." Manwë decided.
"She did." Varda agreed, pleased.
"The Huorns did their jobs well." Yavanna said with a sense of satisfaction, nodding.
"Hmm, yes. Now all that's left is for her to find the chest." Nàmo noted.
"And the sooner the better so that you can claim her, hmm brother?" Irmo teased, and was rewarded with a swat to the back of the head as he laughed.
"I will not even deign to answer that." Nàmo sniffed facetiously. The Valar laughed.
"What about HIM?" Vairë asked, bringing them back to matters. Irmo winced.
"More memories have surfaced. Now he remembers his previous position and his fame and how he received it, but not his death or... Her." He replied cautiously.
Manwë sighed as the other Valar flinched at the thought. "I am truly concerned about this matter. No other time has any such bond been made between two elves. Atar must have allowed them both to forget the memory until they meet so that they won't... suffer unduly from the separation." He said grimly.
"I do not want to find out what Glorfindel thinks of this." Irmo sighed, rubbing his temples. "It cannot be dissolved. It was made in Eru's name, and even Nàmo confirms that Atar has honored the bond." He said, sounding troubled.
"I'm sure that if Glorfindel hears that that he will understand better." Estë tried to comfort them, smiling softly.
"Let us hope so." Manwë sighed, and then smiled. "On a lighter note- I am very pleased to hear that he has remembered his heritage as son of Olwen, sister of Olwë of Alqualondë." He said with satisfaction, and the rest of the Vala nodded.
"Yes. I am glad that he has found his family, though I deem that he will elect to remain with Arafinwë. He has grown too fond of them to do otherwise, which is all the better, in my mind." Oromë pitched in his two-bit worth.
"True enough." Irmo agreed. "My only concern is when they get here. No elf from Endòrë is allowed to pass Tol Eresseä until the darkness in their feär is purged. At the rate that it takes to do so, it will take yení for her to heal enough to be allowed entrance into Aman." He pointed out in concern. Manwë frowned.
"Yes. To be honest, I only see one way for her to properly heal." Nàmo said darkly, and the Valar all shot him looks.
"As if Glorfindel would ever allow that." Tulkas scoffed. Nàmo smiled, and it wasn't a very pleasant smile.
"No, perhaps not. But it is ultimately up to her, not him." Was his only reply. The Valar stared at him askance as the implications of that statement suddenly sank in.
"You mean you-?" Manwë broke off.
"Why ever not? I'm sure Atar would allow it, and she doesn't have to lose the memories she has already retrieved." Nàmo replied.
"It's worth a try." Irmo said thoughtfully.
"Assuming that Glorfindel will allow it to happen." Varda gave them all an ironical smile.
The Valar rolled their eyes, knowing all too well their favorite Balrog-slayer and his infamous temper tantrums.
*Oh for the love of Atar, please don't. My hand cramps every time it comes to Glorfindel's tantrums.* Eonwë moaned.
"Eonwë! WHY are you eavesdropping again?" Vána scolded as the rest of the Valar laughed themselves silly.
*I don't eavesdrop, my lady, I tell you I merely hear anything about Glorfindel or Maiar and naturally come running!* Eonwë sounded petulant.
Vána rolled her eyes as the rest of the Valar roared. "I should have made you my jester, Eonwë. You misheard your calling." Manwë chortled.
Eonwë didn't even deign to answer and merely sniffed. It was a while before the Valar calmed down again.