"Elrond, wake up!" Elros shook him lightly. "How late did you work in the healing tents?"
"Morning?" Silver eyes opened wearily.
"I let you sleep as long as I dared. You have already missed breakfast. Come, Mikeal will be here shortly to help break down the tent. Best estimates are that we have three days of travel left."
"Said that yesterday," Elrond mumbled but cried when water was splashed on his face.
"Come on El! You have time for a quick wash and we must be on our way." Elros let out a long sigh as he pulled the blanket away from his brother. "I, for one, am looking forward to breathing in the sea air." He watched approvingly as his brother stretched and rose awkwardly. Ten minutes later, they were gathering the final supplies and readying to depart.
"Are you sure you are awake enough to ride that ill-tempered stallion?" Beleford teased. His parents, now deceased, had all but adopted Elros and Elrond when the two young men were freed from Himring.
"You will never win Braigsûl's over with such words."
"He is a horse!" Beleford gestured dramatically.
"Pay no attention to him, my noble one." Elrond soothed softly as he offered the horse a precious carrot. No one but Elrond dared to ride the wild horse, who was discovered during the last days of the war. The black stallion nuzzled the elf's long hair affectionately.
"Well, you never have to worry about someone stealing him!" Braigsûl neighed and spat in Beleford's direction.
"I suggest for your own safety that you ride with another group today." Elros teased as Beleford brushed the spittle from his tunic in disgust.
"You are scheduled to meet with King Gil-Galad's group and ride with them this afternoon!" Beleford turned to caution Elrond. "You should keep your steed in line if you value your future life as an elf. I am sure the elven King is more formal than your brother."
"I thank you for your council." Elrond countered sarcastically.
"I am sure Elrond knows to mind his manners." Elros fought back his laughter. "Are you implying that I am not king material?"
"It may take some growing into, my Captain." Beleford grinned and mounted his steed.
"Until later then," Elros shouted orders, and soon his company was on the move. Elrond alternated between riding near his brother and checking on the many wagons that moved the injured. The winter sun was at its peak when they stopped for lunch in the shade of a lonely grove of trees that stood out from the desolate landscape. Beleford, Mikeal, and Elros took stock of their company's progress while Elrond consulted with his healers.
"Eat!" Elros ordered as he guided his brother away from the wagons and towards the base of an oak. He handed his brother a portion of thin soup dotted with stale cracker crumbs.
"Thanks," Elrond mumbled as he visibly prepared to taste the unappetizing fare. He did not want to appear ungrateful. It was a feast considering their current supplies, and his stomach surely needed some food. Beleford came forward with a dispatch for Elros.
"Our scouts have spotted King Gil-Galad's contingent. The King and his seneschal will join us within the hour." Beleford paused as he waited for Elros to respond. But his commander was pointedly waiting for his brother to start eating. Elrond brushed a wayward braid behind his ear and took a sip.
"Leave others in charge of the wounded for the afternoon. You need a break, and Ereinion would very much like to see you."
"I placed Avrion and Sorlor as the head healers for this afternoon. They should be capable of handling most situations."
"And they well know where to find you in an emergency. What time did you turn in last night?" Elros teased. The healers had no qualms barging into their shared tent to summon their chief healer at any hour.
"Only an hour or two before the dawn," Elrond admitted. They both looked up at the sound of horses. Gil-Galad, his personal guard, and his seneschal Tarest drew closer. Gil-Galad smiled at seeing them and turned momentarily to give orders to his guard. They halted fifty feet from the peredhil. The King dismounted and continued unaccompanied.
"May Elbereth smile upon our journey!" Gil-Galad paused as he took in the sight of his former wards and affectionately pulled at one of Elrond's braids. "I see you have been running your brother ragged."
"He would not have chosen differently," Elros answered as his brother shrugged nonchalantly. "May war lie forever in the past." Hands passed over each heart as all near echoed such sentiments. The short rest passed quickly, and they resumed their journey. A handful of Elros' men were encompassed in a small sea of Gil-Galad's personal guard. The Noldor King and the soon-to-be King of the Edain spoke of the difficulties they would face once their people reached the sea.
"Finarfin sent maps that identify potential settlement sites." Gil-Galad passed Elros a letter with the High King's seal.
"It will not be easy to get people excited about building a town that we will only abandon."
"Your people look to you in admiration and joy. You will be able to motivate them."
"I think you overestimate my influence." Elros began, but Beleford snorted.
"You have but to make a speech, and people will respond," Beleford predicted.
"We need to take stock of the available supplies and ships. Then, we can get more credible estimates for departure dates. I assume the elves who chose to go west will leave first." Gil-Galad turned at Braigsûl's nervous snort. His mind registered that the quieter of the brothers had been silent for too long. Elrond's horse had slowed its pace in an effort to keep its rider safe. Elrond sat stiffly in the saddle. His eyes glazed but unseeing.
"Elrond?" Gil-Galad reacted instantly to move to his steed in step with Braigsûl. He spoke soothing words to the spooked stallion as he reached over to steady his distant cousin.
"Elrond, wake up!" Elros' voice was thick with worry.
"It is not sleep - a vision perhaps." Gil-Galad carefully slowed their horses to a stop while Elros steadied his brother from the other side. Clipped orders from Tarest led the company around the trio. Gil-Galad dismounted, and with Elros' aid, they eased Elrond from the saddle.
"This way elfling." Elrond turned to Gil-Galad's voice, his gray eyes clearing to shining silver.
"There will yet be wondrous things, realms both on this soil and on the isle of Númenor. We will be part of their growth." The enthusiasm bubbled through his voice, and he smiled brilliantly. It was a smile that warmed Ereinion's heart, for it appeared far too infrequently.
"Yes, we will be part of building that future." Gil-Galad agreed as he threw his own cloak around the now-shivering figure. Elros guided his brother to sit safely away from the passing company. It was common that warriors needed to rest, although the peredhil were seldom the ones in need. Gil-Galad moved their three horses to safety nearby so he did not have to watch Elros compel his brother to share the vision mind-to-mind, a move he had spoken out against. He returned in time to catch mumbled words.
"…Will not be a part of our lives." He marked the anguish whisper as being Elrond.
"I know." Elros bent to kiss his brother's head. "But we will rejoice in our friends and build families of our own."
"Will I even see your family?"
"I am confident that I can convince Eonwë to allow an exception for you to regularly visit Númenor. Or else a little haircut and a disguise might suffice. " Elros laughed as Gil-Galad gave him a mock glare. The High King bent to assess his kin, gently cupping the chilled face in his warm hands. Silver eyes, vulnerable and pained, met his own.
"You are part of my family now." Gil-Galad brushed the disheveled hair away from Elrond's eyes as he marked the effects of the vision: chilled skin, cramping muscles, and a migraine. Unfortunately, there was little Miruvor or sweetened willow bark tea to alleviate these symptoms. "No duties tonight, elfling. You will rest in my pavilion."
"Not an elfling." Elrond protested, although his eyes were already closing at the High King's mental suggestion of rest.
"No, you are two years past your majority and already a diplomat, warrior, and world renowned expert on Edain healing. To think that you once despaired that you would not be able to accomplish anything! Sleep Elrond, you have more than earned it, elfling." Ereinion's voice had an extra, hypnotic quality that the weary elf could not resist. Elros grinned as he watched his brother succumb to sleep.
"You must teach me to do that." He whispered. "It could come in quite handy."
"I doubt that Eonwë would approve of Eldar influences on your people. Númenor is a gift to your people, a place where you can develop independently."
"It would be cruel to force a permanent separation between my brother and I." Elros paused before he admitted. "They said they were well-pleased with our parents, yet they would not permit us to see them, not even Adar, who flew overhead in battle. How do they not consider that cruel?"
"They may be powerful beyond our understanding, but I think they too just endeavor to interpret the will of the One. They are not all-powerful or all seeing." Gil-Galad waived one of his guards forward. "I assume you would prefer to take Elrond."
"Of course. He will be mortified to hear that he was transported like a babe in front of me." Elros grinned and mounted his horse.
"I doubt you are a stranger to the effects of visions. It is not fitting for a King to berate innocents." Gil-Galad chided. "In my pavilion, he will be guaranteed an uninterrupted sleep. You can enlighten me on what you learned of his vision as we continue our journey." Gil-Galad and Tarest lifted the sleeping peredhel to his brother's arms.
Xxxxxxxxx
"Indiriel!" Galadriel exclaimed in delight. Apart from Galadriel the gathered elven leaders were solely male. This was not too surprising as ellon dominated the ruling councils in the West. Most were startled slightly at the entrance of Gil-Galad's Queen.
"Greetings King Finarfin, Lady Galadriel, and Lord Ingwion." She smiled and acknowledged the many other noble elves present. "We have brought wagons with food and other supplies from the lowland villages." Cheers sounded as many rejoiced at word of the needed supplies.
"Celebration is premature, for there is also some bad news," Galadriel announced. The room immediately fell quiet.
"In the upheaval, many fields were damaged, flooded, or swallowed by the sea." Indiriel turned to her friend for support.
"It will be imperative that we quickly survey the lands that once were labeled as 'too dangerous'. We need to identify and prepare additional fields for the spring planting, which is but three months away."
"Winter will be lean," Indiriel warned.
"Supplies must be divided and shared with the second born, who are generally less able than the Eldar to go without sustenance." Galadriel's statements were met with outrage.
"We have fought hard for this victory. Our warriors should not be subjected to starvation." Someone exclaimed.
"No one said starvation." Galadriel's voice was lost in a sea of comments.
"Order! Order!" Finarfin's voice boomed over the din. Quiet immediately fell. "A plan is required. All must work together to supply everyone with sustenance." The High King nodded towards his daughter.
"We have secured supplies for preparing lembas." Galadriel announced.
"The ellith will gather to bake lembas next week." Indiriel grasped Galadriel's hand in a sign of mutual support.
"We can ascertain what effect, if any, the upheaval had on the ocean." Cirdan proposed. "We may be able to organize regular fishing expeditions to reap the sea's bounty." Many heartily approved this proposal.
"My contingent can explore the surrounding forests to see what game may be hunted." Prince Ingwion offered.
"It would be best to include the Edain companies in this process. Then, they will be reassured by our commitment to providing food for all."
"They have much experience in farming. Perhaps that is where they can make the greatest impact." Indiriel wisely counseled.
"We should also send some food to those on the trail," Cirdan noted. "I received word from King Gil-Galad that his companies and those of the Edain were in dire need of provisions."
"But they are scheduled to arrive in three days' time!"
"For men, three days without food is long indeed."
Xxxxxxxxx
"Lords Glorfindel and Orondo approach with a small party and pack horses." Mikeal informed his Lord.
"Really?" Elros immediately turned and hurried with his trusted friend. Sure enough, ten elves were approaching along the trail. Their telltale glow and golden hair immediately marked them as Vanyar.
"Glorfindel! Tell me you have brought provisions!" Elros called.
"Greetings to you as well, Elros." Glorfindel laughed and pointed at the pack horses. "Yes, Aran Finarfin sent some provisions in the hopes that your remaining journey would be more pleasant."
"Thank Elbereth!" Elros exclaimed. "Mikeal organize men to bring the supplies to the cooks." There was little need for Mikeal to organize anything as men were already lining up to volunteer. Hunger had been a constant companion on the week's journey.
"Should we ration these supplies for the next three days?"
"I believe so. Times are lean, but already people are banning together to fish, hunt, and plan for the spring planting. We will need your people's input." Many of the surrounding men cheered and promised to help with the planting.
"We have plenty of farmers and fishermen." Elros smiled at his men's reactions. "All will pitch in to help feed the populace."
"Where is your shadow?" Glorfindel alluded to Elrond's absence.
"Hidden in Ereinion's tent, enjoying a well-deserved rest," Elros divulged. "I am afraid years of double duty have caught up with him."
"It is nothing that a few months away from pressures and responsibilities will not undo. Master Noenri was also driven beyond exhaustion and wrote to ask our permission to rest in the Vanyar encampment by the sea."
"No one will recognize him there." Elros laughed at the thought of the Noldor King's chief healer hiding out among the Vanyar.
"Indeed not. You look tired, Elros." Glorfindel whispered in worry, for the peredhel looked pale. "Are you well?"
"This war has taken its toll. I look forward to building our homes in peace." He paused and smiled as his stomach growled. A few good meals would be much appreciated."
"Then let us share some ale while we wait around the mess tent for that meal." Glorfindel grinned.
"Ale?" Elros perked up at the thought. Glorfindel and Orondo both dismounted and spent several minutes praising and thanking their steeds before Glorfindel moved to where his bedroll and supplies were usually stashed.
"I trust you can rustle up a cot and a few extra things in exchange for this." He lifted the half keg from the horse. "I expect a handful of us can enjoy a pint. It is not much."
"But it is much appreciated!" Elros exclaimed. Indeed, glasses were shared so many could have a few sips of the brew, and many spirits were lifted.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
In the quiet night only a mile away, Ereinion indulged again in his beloved's letters. His heart surged with joy at their imminent reunion. The war had forced an unwanted separation. Pained mumbles drew him from his thoughts, and he walked over to the corner where Elrond mumbled in his sleep. A sheen of perspiration painted the younger elf's brow and his features were tense as if he fought a foe in his dreams. The years of battle would certainly not have eased the nightmares occasionally plaguing Elrond. Of course, the young elf would never speak of it. The strained features and shadows that sometimes darkened the normally bright eyes were telltale signs of unsettled nights.
"All is well. Be at peace ion-nin (my son)." Gil-Galad stroked the dark strands gently as he strengthened the healing trance. His brow furled in worry at what he sensed from his son. There were wounds to the fëa coupled with a deep-seated loneliness and longing – nay, almost a craving. Was this from the exhaustion due to the strain of healing so many? Or did this speak to something else? He shook his head in puzzlement and made a mental note to speak to Healer Noenri about what he had discovered. Then Ereinion sent a prayer to the One as he watched his foster sons' anguished features relax into peaceful sleep. "Thank Eru for bringing you and your brother to me. My heart sorrows for what Earendil and Elwing have lost even as I rejoice in what Indiriel and I have gained. For you and your brother are precious treasures, ion-nin."