Xxxxxxxx Elrond and Erestor's tent in the Avari settlement xxxxxxxxX
"Maengwen ordered two additional copies of the painting." Elrond paused.
"We look dashing!" Elros' grin widened at his brother's bashful look. "But do not fear. Eru willing, you will visit Númenor many times, even if we have to have you stow away on a trading ship."
"There is no way of knowing that."
"Elrond, trust me. We will still spend much time together." Elros had said, but even as Elrond replayed the conversation, his heart ached that they were separated for yet another summer.
"Elrond! You are not dressed yet? You have not even braided your hair." Erestor appeared quite dapper in the Sindarin dress robes and sighed dramatically as he grabbed the tunic from the bed. "These are royal garb indeed. Gil-Galad's device intertwined with your Adar's seal. I heard his battle against the great dragon Ancalagon lit up the sky."
"What?" Elrond absently fingered the embroidery on his sleeve. Erestor had been busy helping with the wedding preparations and had not spent much time with his friend in the last few weeks. Luckily, they shared a tent, so he at least saw him in the mornings.
"Your Adar. Did you see him fight the dragons?" Erestor parted the silky strands and began braiding. Elrond's reticence was sometimes misinterpreted as aloofness, but Erestor knew better. It was not easy to be a peredhel among elves – the last of several lines of legendary kings.
"I saw his ship," The Peredhel paused and added softly. "It was lit with the shimmering light of Naneth's Silmaril."
"It is a travesty to have had their Adar so close, yet not be able to meet him." Erestor thought as he struggled to come up with a more innocuous topic. He filed away the comment about Elrond recognizing the Silmaril. "Calimdriel is counting the hours until she will be free from Mother's rules."
"One is never free of guidelines or expectations that govern our behavior." Elrond winced as Erestor tugged the finished braid.
"Sorry." Erestor grinned impenitently.
"Though if any could escape them successfully, it would be your sister." Elrond rose and held back a sigh as Erestor assessed his appearance.
"Come, it is time," Erestor said in approval. Apparently, they were suitably attired.
"They would rather I was not present."
"Calimdriel and I are honored by your presence, elfling." Erestor pulled Elrond's braid teasingly. "Time to go." He announced, pulling his friend out of the tent. Erestor did not remember much from the walk, but soon they were standing in front of his Naneth and Sister's tent.
"Are you ready?" He called into the tent. His Naneth emerged in a sparkling Emerald green dress, her face lit with a joy that Erestor remembered from old, when his Adar still walked the world. Calimdriel stepped out behind her. She looked radiant with white flowers braided into her midnight hair. Happiness flowed from her.
"You look beautiful." Erestor hugged his sister. "Orodiun is one lucky Ellon." Flanked by her Naneth on one side and Erestor on the other, the three walked down to the meadow with Elrond following behind. The festivities commenced in a sea of summer colors. The blessings and ceremony took place under the loving caress of the golden sun, Eru's sign of his unending love. A low platform was covered with scented blossoms of yellows and whites. The Herutaurë was dressed in the greens of his beloved forest and wore a crown of flowers. Soon, the happy couple was exchanging their vows in front of the ancient Lord of the Forest.
"Gerich velethnín a guil nín al lû bân. (You have my love and my life for all time.)" Orodiun's sincere pledge rang out. Erestor heard a sob nearby and turned to find his Naneth dabbing at her eyes with a kerchief. He put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek. He knew that someday Adar would be reborn.
Blessings and prayers for the couple's future were uttered in song form. Soon harp, flute, drum, and voices lifted in a call to the dance. Undulating melodies led graceful feet as the dancers joyfully swept around the circle. Oropher's family was in the center of the festivities, which had drawn many, significantly increasing the size of this Avari settlement. The patriarch in question was now dancing with his youngest. Little Aurmîr's smile was wide as her Ada, Oropher, swept her up in his arms. Her brother Andapher was trying to cut in on the happy couple.
"This is my bride, brother." Orodiun teased as he kissed Calimdriel to the delight of the other dancers. "Find your own."
"I could use a partner Ion-nin." Lady Gellir accepted her son's arm as the others laughed. Erestor and Lillanlai passed them on their way out of the circle.
"Thank you for teaching me the steps, my Lady." Erestor bowed to Lillanlai.
"Erestor, you are precious!" The princess laughed, a melodious sound like cascading water. "I have not had such a wonderful time in ages. Your sister is so dear, and it does not take any special foresight to know that she and Orodiun are made for each other. Perhaps we should enjoy one more dance. This is my favorite Silvan melody." Indeed, the language of the singing had shifted, and for the first time, Erestor realized that what he had thought of as a closed society, in reality, included elves of Silvan descent in addition to their Avari hosts. This tune was much more earthy, with a deep rhythm that mirrored their heartbeats.
"Are there many Silvan elves here?" Erestor asked the Princess, whose brow lifted in surprise at the question.
"Some of our Sindar and Nandor brethren as well. Oropher was a diplomat in Doriath, and his honest, forthright nature won him much respect. Word spread far and wide of his Orodiun's betrothal. Many came to pay their respects." Lillanlai explained. Erestor noted that the crowd appeared to watch, nay openly admired Oropher and his family.
"Not just pay their respects." He let his thoughts slip out loud. The Princess nodded too.
"My Adar believes that Oropher would make a great leader and King. The free Sindar from Doriath and independent Silvan's deserve their own settlements. Not all would settle in Mithlond or under the Avari's more nomadic lifestyle. Some seek a permanent settlement in the woods under the safety of a wise leader. Your sister will go. Will you?"
"I had not considered it before," Erestor admitted.
"An honest answer." Lillanlai smiled. "But your family hails from Doriath. I met your Adar several times. He was a respected warrior with a keen mind. As a child of Elu's forest realm, surely you would want to return with your people."
"My Adar moved our family to Tol Galan when Lúthien and Beren settled there."
"Was he among the small band of guards and councilors sent to aid and protect Elu's daughter?" Lillanlai asked.
"I believe so, although he told me he volunteered. Tol Galan was a small but close-knit community."
"I heard there were men there as well!" Lillanlai's voice held a tremor of fear.
"A few, including Beren and Lúthien at that point." Erestor smiled. "I did not interact with them. The isle's beauty and safety…"
"Gave you elflings much space for adventure and play." Lillanlai read his thoughts.
"After Lúthien passed from Arda, we moved to Balar."
"Calimdriel told me about her childhood on Balar," Lillanlai recalled.
"My parents thought it would be a safe place to raise their family. I think they were planning for a large family. However, it was not to be."
"Maybe Calimdriel and Orodiun will be blessed with many children."
"I think they need some years to mature before considering adding elflings to their responsibility." Erestor laughed lightly.
"This is the night to enjoy the festivities." They spun around the circle again to the thumping beat. Erestor felt as if the rhythm drove all thought and worry away. Indeed, he had no concept of how long they had danced or when they changed partners. He had not caught the smiling redhead's name, although he gallantly kissed her hand and thanked her for the dance as he breathlessly murmured his excuse to sit out the next song.
"Erestor! Come join us!" Orodriun called as he stepped out of the circle. The sons of Oropher were a riotous group. Calimdriel was still laughing at one of their stories when he joined them. Thranduil poured him a glass of wine, and they made space for him around the packed table. One person of note was missing, prompting Erestor to scan the periphery. Elrond had been quiet and withdrawn. Erestor knew he was worried about detracting from the event by drawing attention to himself. Indeed, the peredhel seemed to practice the fine art of fading into his surroundings. "Is this some trickery of the Maiar?" Erestor had teased. Perhaps his jest was not far off the mark for Elrond had only shrugged in reply.
"Where is your shadow?" Calimdriel realized who her brother was looking for. Erestor looked to where Elrond had been standing, but only a worried guard stood there looking frantically around. Erestor closed his eyes and listened with his heart. Elrond had quickly learned to stay in the shadows. The Avari were wary of outsiders, and he had enough harrowing encounters to know where the general populace stood regarding a peredhel. Although Elrond divulged that the populace seemed less uncomfortable with him during this visit. How many visits would be required until they treated him with friendship? In any case, the quiet, contemplative role suited his friend. It was a world apart from the leadership role Elrond had assumed in the Edain healing ward during the war. Erestor had several times stumbled upon Elrond happily sketching medicinal plants in the woods.
"Under the oak beside the musicians." Erestor spied the elusive figure. Calimdriel turned, and Elrond indeed slid into focus. She waved, and he smiled in response, then turned sideways and slipped out of vision.
"He is gone again."
"Probably chagrinned at being detected." Erestor poured himself a much-needed glass of water and drank deeply. Silvan dances were strenuous. Absently, he remembered stories of how Lúthien had walked undetected into Angband. Perhaps Elrond had inherited some of her talents. "They forbid him from dancing. Something about not inciting grievances."
"What! Did you not complain?" Calimdriel was incensed. She knew how much her friend enjoyed dancing. How had he persevered here last year?
"You know as well as I do that it would not be in anyone's best interest to cause a scene." Erestor returned.
"Adar thinks that everyone needs time to accept the Valar's proclamations and to deal with a new reality in a world without constant battles against Melkor." Orodiun's voice held sadness as he tried to look for their friend. He wished the others would rejoice and accept him as they had.
"Elrond needs time as well, not only to heal but to understand and accept the changes his choice brings. He can do that best away from the polarized eyes of the crowd." Thranduil shifted his hold on his young sister. Her blue eyes blinked open momentarily but close with a sigh as she settled back into the comfort of her brother's hold. All the excitement had caught up with the elfling. "It is best not to draw attention to him."
Xxxxxxx
"Your charge?" Kalmë jumped at Herutaurë's voice and quickly scanned the last place where the peredhel was lurking. The mysterious Peredhel was nowhere in sight. He seemed to take it as a challenge to slip away from Kalmë. The two of them often laughed about it. Indeed, Kalmë felt much more at ease with the strange young elf.
"Too slippery. Maybe he is a shapeshifter," he opined as his King laughed quietly. That the Peredhel could assume other forms like Melian, Lúthien, and Elwing was unlikely, although not out of the realm of possibility.
"Perhaps his Maiar heritage does endow him with talents beyond our own. But put aside your vision and focus on the song of the trees. They rejoice in the youth's presence." With that hint, the forest lord clapped his guard's shoulder and rejoined the dance.
"Would you grant me the favor of a dance?" The Forest Lord asked a stunned Niphendriel.
"Hantanye Herutaurë," Niphendriel curtsied before accepting his offer to dance. She was honored that the Lord of the Forest had showered such attention on her daughter's wedding.
"Your heart is filled with both joy and sorrow." The Lord of the Forest astutely noted. "Come let us tip the balance towards joy. Your beloved would have rejoiced that his daughter had found such happiness." Niphendriel nodded in agreement. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"You honor us with your attention. The ceremony was beautiful beyond words."
"It is a momentous occasion in the young couple's lives and should be celebrated as such regardless of their status or positions."
"Oropher and his sons will be great leaders," Niphendriel whispered. The Forest Lord smiled at her words.
Xxxxxxxxxx
"The day was perfect." Oropher kissed his wife as they walked towards the circle. An ancient lilting melody enticed the older elves to the dance. They took their places as the harp's call drew to a close. To him, she seemed to grow more beautiful with each passing year. He thanked Eru again for his good fortune. Then the rich, deep song began, and they twirled, turned, and stepped in the intricate pattern of the Lothwesta (blossom breeze). Indeed, those that now twirled on the green could trace their roots to Cuivienen. Some were the first to awaken or in the following generation. Their numbers now greatly diminished from the lake settlement.
"Almost perfect." Gellir smiled. Unspoken was their wish that Rúmdir could have been with them to celebrate his brother's wedding. Elves were never meant to experience the loss of a child.