Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. I am simply playing with them.
CHAPTER 3: A Strange Family
Ecthelion led the peculiar group to a nearby chamber where he usually took council with his trusted advisors. Though the room was situated near the audience chamber for ease of access, today the path seemed unending in the tense silence that encased them. Both the older elves appeared to be trying to set fire to the path in front of them with only their gaze while the captain and the prince followed them, their hands still conjoined and a resigned look upon their faces.
Once they entered the room, Ecthelion invited his guests to take a seat at the long table as he sat at the head. King Thranduil sat to Ecthelion's right while Lord Elrond took the place next to him. Thorongil took his customary seat at Ecthelion's left and the ever-devoted Prince sat next to his husband.
"Ada..", Captain Thorongil trailed off seemingly unable to find words.
Lord Elrond gazed upon his son's weary face and finally relented with a huge sigh. "Ai, ion nȋn. My words were in haste and ill humour. It was your well-being that remained my main concern, it is still my concern. Though I admit, I was perhaps too blinded by said concern that… I failed to consider your happiness."
Lord Elrond rose from his seat, crossing the room to his son with purposeful strides. With arms outstretched, he enveloped the captain in a warm embrace. The captain readily melted into his father's embrace. "Gohèno nȋn! Ada. I was wrong to raise my voice at thee," "Hush, be at peace ion nȋn. We both are guilty of letting our emotions rule us. 'Twas not only your fault.", the elven lord comforted his remorseful son. His tone was contrite as he spoke and he bestowed a kiss upon his son's brow as he finished speaking, holding him closer.
Lord Elrond finally broke the hug, though he held his son by the shoulder unwilling to let his son go, and beckoned Legolas to come closer with his other hand. The elven prince carefully approached the father of his beloved and gingerly joined the hug. King Thranduil also moved to secure the pair within his hands, holding them to his bosom.
"While I do not approve of the way in which you approached this, I am happy for you both ionath nin, do not doubt that." Said King Thranduil.
"Aye, your adar states the truth. We, your brothers and I are happy for you. I am sure that they are preparing a celebration in Imladris as we speak. Glorfindel was overjoyed though he sought to hide it from me in fear of invoking my wrath." chuckled Lord Elrond.
Finally, Ecthelion could no longer stand being left in the dark, so he interrupted them, "My lords, I loathe to intrude, but I am afraid I don't understand." He looked at his captain, "Thorongil, did you not say that you were an orphan, that your father died in an orc raid and that it was an uncle of yours that raised you? It would seem you have not been forthright with me, captain?" Ecthelion asked amused and perplexed by the need for such an elaborate hoax. He would have invited any son of such a venerable elven lord with open hands. He was also perplexed when he did not remember reading even an ounce of deception in the captain's eyes when he had narrated his sorrowful tale. He seemed to be genuinely grieving the fall of his father and Ecthelion's heart refused to believe the endearing young man in front of him could be dishonest.
"An uncle!?", exclaimed lord Elrond, his eyes strangely glittering. And so the berating continued…..
Author's Notes
This will be the final update for this story.
Translation:~
Adar/Ada - Father/Daddy
Gohèno nȋn - Forgive me
Ion nin - My son
Penneth - Little One
Thank you everyone for putting up with my sporadic updates and for sticking with me till the end of this story.
Until next time
xoxo
greenleafshope
