Chapter 37
Crown of Flowers
"What do you mean you lost them?" Erestor repeated impatiently.
The dark-haired counselor glared at the helpless Ñoldo in front of him. At his desk, Elrond sighed and rubbed his temple.
This confrontation was inevitable. Only a few hours ago, Gildor and the other elves that traveled from Lindon arrived. All were delighted to see them. But when Erestor's eyes searched for the one he cared for, his eyes darkened all the more and forcefully pulled Gildor, and shoved him in Elrond's study room for a discussion. Gildor had told them the story of how they were ambushed by orcs in the middle of the night, with Erynlith and Glorfindel trying to defend the other elves when, suddenly, his horse bolted off. Gildor prepared himself from a good scolding, not from Elrond, but from the furious Erestor.
"And you did not return for them?" The questions continued to pour, and Gildor helplessly nodded. Erestor quickly turned Elrond. "We must find them immediately," he said. "Eryn could be somewhere and—"
"So, Erynlith and Glorfindel defended you, hm?" Elrond mused, completely ignoring Erestor. Then, he chuckled in amusement. "Sounds what exactly Lord Glorfindel would do…"
"Yes, but keep in mind that they are missing, Elrond. Missing!" Erestor flailed his hands. "The very reborn elf that you are anticipating is lost, and his only companion is Eryn!"
"If I were you, dear counselor, I will not trouble myself so," Elrond said calmly.
"And why not?"
Elrond laughed. "Having the two of them together will make them closer. Trust me, I know things, Erestor."
Glorfindel sighed and shifted from his seat. "Are you done yet?"
"No," came the reply.
He smiled. "Oh, but I am getting restless on my spot, my lady. Shall I turn around now?"
"Not yet, Glorfindel!"
With that, he stifled a laugh. The two of them had been traveling for weeks now, stopping every once in a while when Erynlith insisted to get some rest. Despite his growing weariness, Glorfindel allowed to stop and make camp. The blue blanket they shared was almost worn out; she was a heavy sleeper, Glorfindel thought every night in amusement. In their camp, they would not make bonfire, both clearly aware that it made him uncomfortable. And at night, when she had already drifted off into reverie, Glorfindel would keep into his thoughts, absentmindedly combing his fingers through her umber hair.
In that particular morning, Erynlith insisted that they stop for a rest and to offer him something that would ease his mind. Hearing that, Glorfindel suspiciously arched an eyebrow. But his friend only laughed and set him leaning against a tree as she disappeared behind the thick bushes.
"I think I am falling asleep here…" Glorfindel crooned again.
"Stop lying, Glorfindel. We both know you don't sleep!" Her voice shouted from behind.
"It is almost lunchtime, Erynlith. Whatever are you doing there?" No answer. He huffed. "That better not be one of the sticky substances you used on my hair last week… I have learned my lessons, tra-la, and that is not to mess with you, tra-lo."
Erynlith laughed and emerged, her hands behind her back. The golden elf arched an eyebrow.
"Close your eyes, Glorfindel," she instructed, and he was quick to comply. Then, she knelt and placed something light on his head. When she leaned back, she said: "Okay, you can open them, tra-la…"
He opened his eyes and reached out for his head. He felt the soft petals of flowers, and he momentarily removed it to see what it was. A daisy flower crown. So that was why his friend had been too busy. She spent hours making a flower crown for him. How flattering.
"Beautiful." Glorfindel smiled and wore the crown again. "What is this for?"
"To make you feel better," Erynlith chirped. "You were brooding again last night. I hope you don't mind white flowers; only daisies grow in these parts, tra-lay."
"I love it." He laughed. "I am going to wear this all day."
"Are you sure? Rivendell is just around the corner. Lord Elrond will see you wearing a flower crown. It might also give some impressions of the other elves, tra-lo." She warned, but could not suppress an amused smile. She walked up to the hose they shared, patted its muzzle, and mounted.
Glorfindel followed and took the reins. "I do not mind wearing it," he said, mustering the horse forward. The Misty Mountains already loomed ahead of them, and it would already be a matter of time for them to reach the hidden valley wherein Rivendell was located. "I used to wear flower crowns all the time, though the flowers were mostly yellow."
Throughout their whole journey, he only gave hints of his past. He never fully mentioned names and places, but he trusted her enough to mention something about a Balrog. And whenever he mentioned that name, he would tremble and seek for comfort. He was just like an elfling that someone would want to take care of. During the night, he was always too cautious and alert, mistaking each and every noise to be enemies lurking in the shadows. He was paranoid in a way Erynlith wanted to describe, but she never told him. It would probably the last thing she wanted to tell him.
When Rivendell was just a few miles away, she took the reins from him and bolted the horse faster, already too eager to come home. She knew the area well and guided the horse through corners. The pathway was rocky and steep. Glorfindel looked up; he could hear the bubbling noises of streams.
"Here we are," Erynlith whispered as they approached the bridge.
And the golden elf was in awe. He heard from Círdan that Rivendell was a beautiful place, but the sight before him was more beautiful than he anticipated. The house was full of life, trees and waterfalls made it all happen. There was a white watchtower behind the main house. Upon reaching the courtyard, he and his companion slipped off from their tired horse. And his eyes continued to feast on the place. Not long after, elves came running towards them. All were dark-haired, for the exception of Gildor Inglorion.
"Eryn!" Someone voiced out.
Glorfindel turned to see who it was. One of the dark-haired elves, tall and slender and clad in an elegant black robe. He ran past the golden elf to admit his female companion in a whole-hearted embrace. He continued to observe; he couldn't help but be curious. The newcomer kissed Erynlith's forehead, scolding her for getting home so late. And she laughed heartily, calling him brother.
More elves arrived and what caught Glorfindel's attention was a stunning lady with silver hair. He already guessed that she was one of the Sindar. Her arm was intertwined with her lord, and three other elves followed behind them: two elves who looked exactly the same and another one who was more beautiful than any other. Glorfindel also guessed that this was Arwen, the one whom Erynlith described as the most beautiful in the valley.
"Lord Glorfindel." The Master of the Imladris addressed him formally.
"Lord Elrond?" Glorfindel answered, already dipping his head into a low bow. He spared another bow to Celebrían and her children. "I am honored to be in your presence, my lord."
Elrond smiled warmly. "Welcome to Rivendell. These are my Lady Celebrían, my sons Elladan and Elrohir, and my daughter Arwen. I trust that your journey all the way has to troubles at all. I am sorry about what happened when the group was separated. I could have sent a search party for you."
Glorfindel shook his head politely. "It is not needed, my lord. Lady Erynlith and I found our way back."
"That sounds well," Elrond said. He gestured for the main house. "Your journey was long. Please come inside and have some rest. Then, I can show you to your chambers."
"Yes, of course." He spared a glance at Erynlith who was still occupied. He followed Elrond and his family inside the main house.
The elves of Rivendell greeted him cordially. Elrond gave him a tour in all parts of the house, especially those that would concern Glorfindel the most. It was already agreed that Glorfindel would take over the captainship of Rivendell's forces and become the seneschal. The barracks, stables, and armories were shown to him. There was a brief introduction for the soldiers that were there. Lindir met Glorfindel in the Halls of Fire when everyone was gathered. Even Gildor greeted Glorfindel once again, apologizing for the night of ambush. When he would search for Erynlith, she would always be kept in the company of various elves, especially the one whom Gildor introduced as Erestor.
Ah, the brother she always spoke of, Glorfindel mused.
Dinner was shared later on. He and Elrond shared idle talks, of news concerning Círdan and the newly-arrived Olórin, who preferred to stay behind in Lindon. Elrond asked about their journey for the weeks that passed, and he was delighted to answer all the questions. The brothers Elladan and Elrohir seemed drawn to him, and so was Arwen. It was rumored in Rivendell that the golden elf was reborn at the bidding of the Valar, and everyone there thought he was lucky to have a second chance in life. Celebrían eagerly mentioned her parents who were both familiar to Glorfindel. He knew both Galadriel and Celeborn back in the good old days that he refused to speak any more.
After eating, Elrond offered to finally show him his rooms. But Erynlith called out and pulled Erestor towards him.
"Glorfindel," she beamed, pulling Erestor closer. "This is my brother, Erestor. Erestor, Lord Glorfindel…"
The golden elf politely bowed. "Greetings, Lord Erestor."
"Likewise, Lord Glorfindel," answered the other. "I am grateful for your watching over Erynlith for the last weeks."
"Ah, that was enjoyable." Glorfindel laughed quietly.
The conversation was interrupted when Elrond appeared again, insisting that their new guest should see his bedchambers. He was convinced that Glorfindel was exhausted and would want to rest now. But Erynlith knew better. As Glorfindel followed Elrond reluctantly, Erynlith unlatched herself from Erestor and followed. She could feel her friend already trembling under his tunic, his jaw clenched tightly. His deep blue eyes were set on the corridor up ahead as the elf lord that led them continued with his monologue. In an attempt to comfort him, Erynlith tapped Glorfindel's shoulder and smiled at him.
"You look silly with the flower crown, tra-lo," she told him.
"Oh, my." Glorfindel laughed. He reached for the top of his head. "I have forgotten that I still have this. Lady Celebrían and all the others have seen me with it. Do I really look silly?"
"You do, but it also makes you look pretty. I think Elladan and Elrohir are envious, tra-lay."
"I wouldn't count on it." He chuckled.
Finally, they arrived in front of large double doors. Elrond opened one and ushered them inside to have a better look. There was a grand four-posted bed in the middle, arrayed with several pillows and layers of mattresses and blanket. A fireplace was in the side; bookshelf and wardrobe were also on the other. The window overlooked the waterfalls and garden below the room.
"Does it suit your fancy, Lord Glorfindel?" Elrond asked.
He nodded. "Yes, my lord. I am very grateful. Thank you."
"Well then, I should leave you for rest. Erfaron, let us leave Lord Glorfindel to his business." Elrond turned to leave the grand room. Erynlith was about to follow but Glorfindel quickly grabbed her wrist, prompting her to turn back to him.
"Please," he whispered.
Elrond had also turned and gave them a confused look.
Glorfindel ignored him. "Erynlith, I can't… Please…"
"Is everything alright, Lord Glorfindel?" Elrond interrupted again.
"Yes," Erynlith answered him. "I will follow you later, Lord Elrond."
With that, the half-elf reluctantly nodded and left them be. The door was shut softly and the pattering of his feet faded afterwards. Erynlith turned again to her friend; his worried look reminded her of how he looked like before. His brows were furrowed; the grip on her wrist was gentle but demanding. Glorfindel was starting to tremble, the darkness finally registering in his mind. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came.
Erynlith smiled and tapped his cheek.
"You'll be fine, Glorfindel," she said, now combing her finger through his golden tresses. "Just one night of sleep, okay? Get yourself some rest. If you need me, my room is not far away from here. Look for the white and blue door; that is mine. And beside that is Erestor's. No need to worry. You'll be fine. I promise."
But Glorfindel shook his head briskly. "No, Erynlith, please… The darkness… I cannot…"
"Really, now…" Erynlith said, soothing him again. "Take your thoughts away from the darkness. Rest your mind, Glorfindel. When you need me, I'll be nearby. And if the thunder and lightning return, think of the lovely flower crown you have. It will make you feel silly…"
"Alright." He nodded reluctantly. "I will try."
She winked. "Good night, Glorfindel."
"Good night, Erynlith."
He let his hand slip from her wrist and watched her leave his room. When she was gone, Glorfindel scanned the room. It was spacious and dark; only the moonlight illuminated the place. Instead of occupying the bed, he collapsed on the corner of the room, hugging his knees and breathing heavily. The walls were closing in on him, the imaginary fire suddenly sparking in the hearth. He knew he was only imagining things, but he was scared again. He wanted to be held again, to have someone whisper him words of encouragement. Thinking of Erynlith, he took the white flower crown above his head and stared at it. He ran his fingers on the petals, taking a whiff of its flowery scent. He sighed and kept his thoughts focused on his new friend and the crown.
He was the mighty Glorfindel. He could shake these fears away. He only had to find out how.
The Elvenking of Greenwood was silent in his steps, as he arrived in the small garden behind his fortress. The evening breeze was soothing, the silence comforting, and the absence of another presence a relief. His counselors had been hounding him about this and that, his Elven-guard investigating some problems in the forest, and his Chief Counselor…
He sighed heavily and dropped himself on the marble bench. He removed his thick robes, gleaming jewels and crown of red leaves, leaving him nothing with a simple inner tunic, black breeches, and boots—like a heap of clothes for laundry. Tonight, he decided not to be King of Greenwood, but simply as Thranduil, son of Oropher. Kingship was such a pain in the neck that he often wondered why he wanted his father's crown in the first place.
Spring, Thranduil thought, observing the little garden that Celairis had attended for these past decades.
A lone oak tree stood in the middle, circled by various flowers. His Chief Counselor was always neat that her flowers were arranged according to colour. It certainly made him laugh. On one corner was a small patch of pînnaur, the little flame, but mortals called them pansies. A larger patch was closer to the oak tree, filled with the familiar bluebells.
"Luinell." Thranduil crawled towards the flowers and observed them. In a distant memory, someone was making a flower crown of bluebells for him, making him promise to wear them when he was finally King of Greenwood. King Oropher had always worn a crown of berries, and someone—someone so familiar—had told him to wear a crown of flowers instead.
Even in his uncertainty, Thranduil plucked a handful of bluebells and placed them on his lap. His eyes looked long at the flowers, before he began connecting one stem to the other and intertwining them. He muttered a curse when his first attempt did not go right, but he did not stop there. He was so engrossed in his business that he had not noticed someone approaching him.
Celairis was about to announce her arrival, but stopped short at the sight of Thranduil. He was there, the Elvenking of Greenwood, sitting cross-legged on the grassy floor, making a flower crown. He was pouting at his inability to create a good one, like a child in the brink of throwing a tantrum.
"Get away, Raithon," the irritated King said. Then, he looked behind him and showed a hint of disappointment. "Oh, Celairis. I thought you were—"
"Flower crowns?" She smiled and gestured at the awkwardly-made crown.
Slowly, Thranduil obscured his work from her amused eyes. He stared up at her with a hard look, assessing his power as a ruler. "I was bored, this is nothing. What are you doing here?"
"King Amroth of Lórinand invites you, my lord. He did not mention any business. He only mentioned that it is urgent."
He scratched the back of his head, frowning. "Leave it to Amroth for being so theatrical. Fine, tell him I am going, only if he lets me go whenever I want."
"Of course." Celairis laughed, but her bright blue eyes fell again on the flower crown. The King was no longer paying attention to her. His mind was set on finishing his work. Then, she spoke up. "Luinell? Erfaron loved them, did she not?"
There was no answer.
It only made her feel bolder.
"Erfaron loved luinell and made flower crowns out of them, tra-la."
It finally registered to him.
Thranduil immediately looked up, his eyes narrowing fiercely at her. He dropped the crown and stood up, towering over her slender frame. His female counselor flinched briefly, before inhaling and standing her ground against him. It almost made him chuckle, how Celairis was trying to defy him when only one elf could do that and get away with it.
"What did you say?" He challenged her.
"Erfaron and luinell," Celairis answered quietly, now avoiding his glare. "Forgive me if I gave offense, my lord."
He stared at her for a while, before turning his back to her. "Leave me. Now."
The Chief Counselor immediately complied, bowing her head and scurrying away from the garden. If the rumours were right, the King and Erfaron always had arguments like this, but Celairis could never fathom how Erfaron managed the King's volatile temper. She dabbed the tears from her eyes, promising to herself never to cross Thranduil ever again.
Next Chapter Preview: Some things have changed; some still haven't.
Author's Notes: Take that burn, Celairis! Woo hoo! Oh my, I suddenly feel so mean for bullying my own OC. But nobody messes with Thranduil and gets away with it so easily! For the anti-Celairis readers, HIGH FIVE!
Oh, but shhh, baby Glorfindel. Everything will be fine.
*Rosiethehobbit17 - Ohh, that beach you are talking about sounds amazing~ I hear there are wonderful tourist destinations in Cape Town! I just hope I have the money to travel wherever I want! Wouldn't that be a miracle? XD *holds up microphone, in a politician voice* As a member of the anti-Celairis group, do you have something to say?
*SparklesJustReads - Hmm, a little tension between Glorfindel/Eryn and Thrandy/Celairis would be incredible. We have lots of time to work on that, seeing as Elves can live for bajillions of years! I guess the point of separating them is for them to grow independently from each other, y'know. Thran needs to be king, and we know Eryn is the least person who can help him with politics. That, or she is just super-clingy to Erestor. XD But thank you for your insight!
*Evangeline Pond - LOL. Why not both? Glorfy gets to have Eryn for a while, then BAM! Thrandy comes in and saves the day! Hooray! *throws confetti*
*Treesaw - Ooh, we'll see! #TeamThranduil
*StrawberryObsession - I do think Glorfindel could make her fall for him, especially with his dashing good looks! (º﹃º) His personality is his charm, after all. We'll get there sooner or later. On the other hand, we've seen much of Thranduil's personality. Like in this chapter, he kinds scares me. His temper can be very volatile. Eryn could somehow work on it.
*llcyyxx - Jaffa cake! Wait! Are you bribing me to have Thrandy and Eryn together again?! LOL, just kidding. It could happen, especially when Amroth and Raithon are practically Thrandy/Eryn shippers, if you remember. ~
*Guest - Well... I guess we could share Glorfindel. He needs lots of love! And Thrandy needs to stop sulking and start getting things done. Thank you for stopping by!
*Eirithdiel - Nice to meet you, tra-la! Thanks for following the story. Lots have already happened, but I am glad you've caught up with it! Feel free to ship whoever you want; there's more where that came from. (u‿ฺu✿ฺ) And I hope this story would make you love the Elves even more. They are a bunch of very interesting, yet complex, characters.
*DeLacus - Thank you! *munches on Oreo cookies* I know how you feel; I was quiet for a few minutes before I accepted that he was truly dead. *sniffs*
Glorfy and Eryn have much in common, while Thrandy and Eryn are opposites. And opposites attract, do they not? (●ゝω・)～
*GreedyBunneh - I love how you spell "Bunneh"! Anyway, welcome and nice to meet you. Thank you for such a passionate review! Looks like someone is already a hard Glorfy/Eryn shipper. Thrandy might be heartbroken if he hears. XD
P.S. I cannot thank everyone enough for the positive reviews! We're starting to have complications with the shippers. I'll let you guys decide on that matter. For now, enjoy this chapter; for the anti-Celairis readers, rejoice! She just got burned by our sassy Elvenking.
Once again, thank you for all the readers and reviewers!