Beta'd by Sarah AK
Gwanun Ûl Gâd (The Twins Catch the Scent)
It was an exquisite autumn dawn of whispery golden gleam twinkling
through dewdrops, breaking the skies from darkness with startling
abruptness, showing off all the magnificence of Iluvatar's design with
a clarity that superseded vision and settled succinctly within the
soul, lifting the heart, making one's spirit sing for the beauty of the
world and being connected to it. The kind of morning that caused
new appreciation of all that was so perfectly symbiotic within nature,
a jubilant realisation of the harmonious balance within the
unchangeable variation of Arien's journey through the heavens.
Anor's light always seemed clearer during this part of Arda's cycle of
seasons, the air easier to inhale, sweet without the intoxicating
qualities lent by spring flowering, cool without the bite of winter's
frigid breath, temperate and mild, lacking the harshness of summer's
alternately dry furnace and unbearably stifling humidity. What
was green receded from the landscape while the bold shades of flame and
gold and bronze displayed by the deciduous members of Yavanna's
creations garnered attention. Grass had gone the colour of
citrine and the deep rich emerald and dark viridian of holly, fir,
pine, and yew would soon dominate wilderness and settled lands alike.
Within this pristine inauguration of Anor's hours the party from Lorien
arrived at the main road into Imladris and poised upon the foot bridge
overlooking the softly tumbling falls of the Rhossoll (Rustling
Stream), a small tributary that boiled out of the highlands of
Hithaeglir and joined the Bruinen at the Ford on the Great Road.
From this vantage the broad sweep of the valley's gracefully rolling
meadows looked like any other river's floodplain, for the dwellings of
the elves and the Last Homely House were obscured by a barrier of
orchards and woods.
Yet even from this distance away the sounds of Elrond's protected realm
were audible to the keen ears of his sons and their comrades, and that
is why the four were halted, staring in disturbed foreboding at the
silent expanse of grasslands and weald opening at their feet.
There was no one singing in Rivendell, not even the birds.
Whatever the twin Lords made of this they shared only with one another,
but their agitation was easily communicated to their horses and the
pair sped away across the downs, the Lorien couple close behind.
The sentries did no more than whistle a salute as the entourage
galloped by; there would not even be time to send word ahead of the
group's arrival. The guard did, however, signal a warning to
Elladan and Elrohir of fell news awaiting them.
Into the elegant formality of the central courtyard of Elrond's house
thundered Nirmë and Namië, their raven-haired riders more
concerned now than ever as no one came forth from within to greet
them. The look that passed between the brothers exchanged dread
for determination as they dismounted in unison and hastened up the
marble stairs into the foyer of the palacious abode. They halted
there; suddenly feeling as though they had barged into some stranger's
home so intense was the sense of alienation that hovered over their
hearts. Not since returning from the Mithlond without their
mother had the Last Homely House seemed this foreign, this unfamiliar,
this unwelcoming.
Orophin and Dambethnîn hurried after, catching the twins' dark
mood and clasping hands to fortify their flagging hopes. Again
the quartet's entry was unremarked and this caused Dambethnîn to
sigh sadly, for normally Erestor was present to greet all visitors to
the Lord's home. Elrohir half-turned and laid his hand upon her
arm, squeezing gentle encouragement and sympathy as a grim smile
uplifted the corners of his lips, for Erestor's friendship was dear to
the gwanun (twins) as well.
Elladan led the way through the halls; certain everyone must be
collected in the Council Chamber. The warriors encountered none
of the household's staff en route and no voices were discernible in any
direction. It was as if the whole valley was deserted, and while
Elladan knew this to be false he could not prevent an instantaneous
vision of Imladris, forsaken and in ruins, from flashing through his
mind.
Elrohir sucked in an unsteady breath and this time Dambethnîn
reached for him, though she could not share the frightening image
spanning the brothers' conjoined intellects. The four turned the corner
leading to the vale's seat of governance and yet no sounds of
conversing or discussion met them. Elladan looked back to share
his displeasure and mounting concern with Elrohir, who shook his head,
for they had arrived to find the double doors to the room thrown wide
and no one within.
"This is ominous indeed," said Orophin in a low voice. Normally,
there would be lively activity inside, whether from a delegation of a
foreign realm petitioning either aid or alliance, or local inhabitants
of the valley seeking the insight of their Lord to end some dispute.
"Adar's study," spoke Elrohir, solely for the benefit of the Galadhrim,
as he turned about and jogged away into the family's private
suites. At last the murmur of serious words met their hearing and
in their haste the group nearly ran down a trio of surprised elves
laden with trays on which were piled dishes and glasses and the remains
of a half-consumed repast. Without bothering to knock the younger
brother shoved open the door to his father's sanctuary of books, maps,
paintings, and plants and halted just over the threshold. His
companions crowded up behind him, jostling to peer beyond the rigid set
of his broad shoulders that conveyed annoyance, relief, and worry all
at the same time.
Seated before the arched fireplace in his favourite chair was the Lord
of Imladris, Glorfindel in the corresponding armchair to his right with
Galdor and Lindir occupying the comfortable settee. The intrusion
initiated a cessation of their discussion as one group surveyed the
other.
Elrond stared at Elladan and Elrohir, seemingly shocked to see them
there, and said nothing for several seconds as his gaze travelled
between the mirrored emotions in his children's eyes. He was
searching for signs of disgust and rage; hatred and abhorrence, shame
and remonstrance but all he could see was their fear for his welfare
and their distress over the trouble that had fallen upon their
lands. The Lord of Imladris exhaled in immense relief; clearly
they knew nothing. Galadriel has not learned the truth,
then. With a shaky smile he rose and took a step toward his sons,
immediately finding himself sandwiched between their crushing embrace
as both rushed to close the distance, reciprocally reassuring each
other of their respective health and wholeness.
"Iyn, iynen (Sons, my sons), welcome home," Elrond whispered and kissed
each upon the forehead as they relinquished their squashing hold and
let their father breathe. "I will not pretend that this reunion
is joyous, for I know why you have come, yet I am gladdened for your
presence."
"Aye, Adar, Miny'adar (First-father, grandfather (Quenya)) sent
us. He is on his way to Mirkwood to try and mitigate this
dreadful charge," began Elladan.
"And would not let us join his party for fear we would do some violence
to the Elven King," finished Elrohir. "We have brought Orophin
and Dambethnîn here, for they seek news of their bond-mate."
"Please, Lord Elrond, do you have words for us?" Now that the twins had
made their presence official Orophin could no longer wait to learn what
had become of the seneschal. He and Dambethnîn stepped
further into the room and stood expectantly, impatiently, for Elrond's
response. To their surprise, it was Glorfindel who replied,
rising swiftly from his place and approaching the pair.
"We know little of his fate at the present moment, I am afraid, and it
is one of the greatest concerns of this situation," he said
solemnly. "Come and be seated, for surely the journey was trying
and you came with all speed possible to reach us." He ushered
them to his own chair and Orophin sat, pulling Dambethnîn onto
his lap as she crumpled up in despair, wheezing out little whining
whimpers as she hid her face in her husband's hair. Orophin did
not miss the deadly glare Glorfindel bestowed upon his Lord as he moved
away to pour out a serving of Miruvor for the distraught visitors.
"I cannot imagine that anything productive will be accomplished this
day," said Galdor tersely, "and it has barely begun! Indeed,
these last five days we have done naught but argue over the means of
settling this contention, with no accord reached. I must go and
attempt to relay some form of encouragement to our citizens, even if I
do not feel any myself." He rose and tapped Lindir on the
shoulder, signalling him to follow, and moved toward the door, stopping
only briefly to share greetings with the Orc-slayers as he exited.
"I shall see what I may do to help," said the minstrel but his
sorrowful voice betrayed his own lack of faith in achieving anything
positive along those lines. He smiled, a sore-hearted curvature
of grim lips, in response to Elrohir's questioning glance and shook his
head a little as he passed from the room.
The brothers took the advisors' places on the settee as their father
returned to his chair. Glorfindel pressed Dambethnîn to
take a sip of the cordial and retreated to lean against the mantel when
she had calmed down a bit. The silence was broken by Elrond.
"Glorfindel, perhaps you should take our guests and settle them in
suitable quarters. I would like some time to speak with my sons
alone."
"As you wish. Orophin, Dambethnîn, I will answer as many
questions as I am able. Please, come with me." The Balrog
Slayer helped the female warden rise and led the two disconsolate elves
away, sending another harsh grimace in his Lord's direction as he left.
"What happened?" Elladan demanded as soon as the door shut behind
them, for he was alarmed at the open hostility between his father and
their most esteemed councillor.
"It is difficult to explain, but I will try. In turn, you must
hear me out and withhold judgement until all is revealed."
"Valar! Is it as bad as that? Is Erestor truly in danger?"
asked Elrohir, for he could see no other reason to send the Galadhrim
away.
"I do not believe Erestor will suffer physically," Elrond's words were
tinged with wry sarcasm the nature of which the twins found
inexplicable. "However, our situation is most
uncomfortable. Thranduil has reason to be angry but to go to this
extent to exact revenge is excessive. Nonetheless, we must deal
with him officially now."
"Perhaps not. Miny'adar may be able to reason with him as they
are kin," Elladan hopefully interjected.
"Nay, I believe Celeborn will fail in this," said his father and forced
a bitter laugh from his lungs.
"Adar, we are waiting," reminded Elrohir. "Why were you there and
why has Erestor not returned with you?"
How I long for
Miny'ammë's
gift at such times! (First mother, grandmother (Quenya)) he thought
and
Elladan inaudibly affirmed that. It was some minutes before any
response was rendered.
"I was in Southern Mirkwood with Erestor, attempting to learn something
of the activities of the Wraiths in Dol Guldur," Elrond said at
last. He paused and rubbed his eyes wearily. Now that it
came to it, he did not know if he could actually speak of this with his
sons.
"Oh," said Elrohir with disappointment, looking not at his father but
into the dancing flames within the grate. "I had thought you were
there for Legolas."
Upon hearing these words Elrond went stone still and all colour drained
from his countenance as his eyes slowly turned to examine his younger
son in disbelief. "What? Why would think that?"
"We assumed you went to aid the Wood Elf in his dire fate because of
your connection to his mother. Is this true?" Elladan spoke for
his brother.
"Yes, Adar; there is no need for the pretence regarding Ningloriel and
her child any longer. Had you shared your intention, we would
have assisted you and the venture might have been a success," added
Elrohir.
Elrond frowned; he had thought Elrohir would have outgrown these
foolish fantasies long centuries ago. It would not help matters
that the younger son still harboured a gentle image of the Wood Elf in
his heart. For so long Elrond had kept these two facets of his
life separate, his illicit affair and his respectable family,
controlling each with masterful handling, never allowing either to
connect or cross over upon the other. The concept of Elrohir
defending the fallen forest prince, treating even the vague notion of
him with brotherly concern was galling. An astoundingly realistic
vision of his son holding the wild elf in a protective clasp while
Elladan stood guarding over them sizzled into his consciousness, and
within it his sons' distress and repugnance for their father fairly
radiated like heat from the sun.
That I will not abide!
"Exactly how do you see the situation between me and Ningloriel,
Elrohir? Are you among those who believe I sired Thranduil's
cast-off prince?"
"Aye, Ada; what else is there to think?"
"And what is your opinion, Elladan?"
"I have not the firm convictions of my brother, yet I will not discount
the possibility exists."
"I see." Elrond got up and paced to the end of the room and back,
incensed. "I am astonished that either of you could entertain
such a concept! That I would father a child and then abandon it,
that is how you view me, Elrohir? That I would leave an elfling
of my own flesh and blood in the care of that Sindarin upstart?"
"Ai! Adar, you are too harsh! Never did I imagine any of that!"
protested Elrohir.
"And what were we to think, then? You would never speak of it to
us," Elladan defended his brother's romantic heart, wrapping an arm
around his shoulder to calm him. "We assumed you could not be
sure, or that Ningloriel would not have the child removed from
Greenwood, wanting her son to rule their people someday. I
thought you feared to alienate us, or rather Arwen, because of this
second family. I also felt you were ashamed of it all."
"We invented many scenarios, but none in which you would knowingly
wrong one of your own. Ada, surely you understand that we will
support you through this, whatever the errors involved may be,"
concluded Elrohir.
"Good, good, that encourages me greatly," Elrond smiled darkly at his
oldest son, shocked at how near Elladan was to the truth of the
feelings that swirled through the memories of the years with Ningloriel
and the subsequent encounter with her son.
Aye, shame and
fear,
that is all the spiteful inu gave to me. I should have abandoned
her and taken her son while she was still here.
He resumed his seat with a heavy sigh and rubbed his forehead.
His sons would never understand this. Could they remain at his side
once they learned the extent of his vindictive malice? "Let me assure
you both that Legolas is not of our lineage. Remember that in the
time to come; it is most important that you never lose sight of that
fact."
Elladan and Elrohir did not feel anything like reassurance, however;
instead a weighty sense of doom collected in the air of the room and
they were deeply concerned for what the truth could be.
"Why? Why is this so vital? You have told us nothing and I
fear whatever you are hiding more than any legion of Orcs I have ever
faced. Speak!" implored Elrohir, unable to contain his emotions
longer, leaning forward and slipping from beneath the shelter of
Elladan's arm. Instinctively he reached for the hand at its end,
entwining their fingers tightly.
"I did go there to find Legolas, but not for any reasons involving
rescue from his punishment. I sought him to use as a spy upon his
own, for he seemed likely to bear them ill-will, were he anything like
his mother."
"Then Thranduil has more than reason to be angered, he has just cause
for his charge; you truly did this. How came the plans to
failure?" Elladan's tone was bleak and brimming with disappointment.
"Indeed, how could such a plot succeed? What possessed you to
undertake such a scheme? Did Glorfindel know of it?"
"Nay, he was as shocked and worried as we on learning of their
disappearance," Elrohir reminded him. "Legolas has obviously
remained loyal to his own. I do not suppose I can blame him for
that."
"Loyal!" Elrond snorted in derision. "I would not want that one
as an ally! Deeply do I regret ever setting eyes on him!
Fealty and faithfulness he does not comprehend. He is too much
like his mother!"
What does he mean by that?
I know not, but I dislike the rancour in his tone, as if this was
something personal rather than a failed attempt at espionage.
Aye. It is personal. He would never do something so, so
irrational otherwise. What use is a condemned exile in gathering
information? He is lying to us.
Nay, to himself. It is not that he distrusts us, rather he is,
is…Ai! I understand this not!
The twins shared these thoughts and waited, saddened deeply. They
perceived that they would have to discuss the whole ugly situation
again with Glorfindel in order to get at the underlying motives here.
"Adar, he has never been beyond his country's borders and by your own
words had no reason to suspect kinship to you. Why would you
assume he would accept alliance with you and turn on his own?
Ningloriel was entirely devoted to her Nandorin subjects, if that is
what you meant by likening them one to the other." Elladan attempted to
draw Elrond back into discussion even as a new thought occurred to
him. "Unless he did believe you his father,"
"Or did not know who you were," Elrohir spoke with sudden insight as
well. "Did you not reveal yourself to him? That would
explain why he would turn you over to Thranduil's guards."
"Ah, both," Elladan nodded and looked bleakly to Elrohir. "The
gossips in Lorien put it forth that Ningloriel believed Adar was her
child's father. She must have shared this with him."
Elrond listened to this exchange with increasing irritation, his brows
drawing together and creating deep creases of displeasure across his
forehead as his eyes pivoted from one to the other in turn. As
before, the nearness to the truth the two approached was
alarming.
They will have it all figured out in minutes.
"Valar! I do not understand your obsession with justifying that
outcast's actions!" he snapped. "What difference does it make
whether he thought I was his father or not? Why do you care for
him to have behaved honourably? It is not in his character to do
so!"
"Obsession?" Elrohir was surprised.
"We wish to understand how you made the decision that such an
undertaking was feasible. You are not being very forthcoming,
Adar." Elladan growled.
"All right, perhaps I over-react," Elrond took a steadying
breath. "This situation is most trying. I will answer your
queries, then. No, I did not tell him who I was for the
subterfuge could not have worked that way. I feared what you
suggested, Elrohir, that Ningloriel had told him such lies regarding
his paternity, if for nothing else than to spare him the dishonour of
his true parentage. His mother kept another lover, her guardsman
Maltahondo, and that elf is the fallen prince's sire."
"That is unfortunate," murmured Elrohir, feeling for Legolas low
estate.
Something about this explanation still does not set
easily within reason's bounds.
"Aye, but I still do not understand what use he would be to you or why
you found it necessary to lie about your identity," prodded his
brother.
I agree, Adar is not lying but is skirting around the
truth
carefully, as when crossing an ice-bound river. There is
something he dreads to reveal to us.
"I thought he might tell us something of the contents of his King's
vaults. I have long held the suspicion that Thranduil possesses
Isildur's Bane. I needed to secure his trust in order to hope for
any such revelation."
This did not seem to startle his sons, and Elrond both admired them for
having concluded this possibility on their own and worried for how
flimsy his rationale for the actions he took would seem to them.
"Well, if he thought you his sire, that would seem sufficient
motivation! Why the secrecy?" Elladan asked directly.
Valar! What can be so damning?
"Aye, and I thought the White Council had assigned Dol Guldur and
Mirkwood to Mithrandir's methods. I cannot believe he would know
the Ring was there and do nothing." Elrohir added.
Betrayal. He betrayed Erestor and fears to tell us so.
"Mithrandir's methods, as you call them, have produced nothing," Elrond
ignored Elladan's remarks and answered Elrohir instead. "Erestor
and I decided to recruit the Wood Elf and sought the aid of Maltahondo
to take the proposal to him. When that failed, we went to seek
him out ourselves."
"So where is Erestor? Did Legolas send word to his people of your
intentions? Has our seneschal been taken captive by the Woodland
King for these crimes? Is this what you are trying so hard not to
tell us; that you were forced to leave him behind to make good your
escape?" Elladan hoped Elrohir was correct and this was it.
Such was certainly horrible, but could be forgiven, for he truly
believed that circumstances must have forced his father to take such a
course, if indeed this had transpired.
Elrond inhaled a startled breath to hear such reasoning from his
oldest. It was so tempting to accept these ready made alibis and
excuses, so easy would it be to bend the truth around such concepts and
thus reclaim their admiration and respect, their forgiveness for this
folly. It could all be Legolas' fault.
If only I had
not
confessed everything to Glorfindel! He exhaled slowly.
"Yes and no. Erestor is indeed in Mirkwood, and I feel certain he
is within the stronghold. I do not believe he is in physical
danger. Thranduil is no fool; he will not dare to spill a drop of
blood from my House.
"It is true I left him, but it was Erestor's free choice to
remain. He went looking for Legolas; he has foolishly become
enamoured of the cursed outcast," he said this hesitantly, cautiously
and waited for their reaction to such a statement.
It could work; they would never actually meet Legolas, and Erestor's
reputation for philandering was against him. The only problem was
Glorfindel and he could be ordered under his oath to Manwë to
withhold the more personal revelations Elrond had made to him. He
had already agreed to do this regarding Lindir, Galdor, and the
population at large.
As long as he has not told the
Galadhrim,
all will be well.
Elrohir and Elladan sat back and tightened the grip one another's
hands, disturbed. They could not tell where the truth ended and
the lie began, for all of what had just been said rang with the same
noble tones they were accustomed to hearing in their father's
voice. Yet never would they have thought to hear him disparage
their friend and countryman thus.
"You do realise, Adar, that you have just called Erestor a traitor to
Imladris as well as to his bond-mates?" asked Elladan quietly. He
squeezed his brother's fingers harder as Elrond nodded solemnly,
meeting each of their gazes steadily.
"I do, but you must understand he is not himself. The Wood Elf is
very alluring and Erestor cannot help his fascination."
He believes this.
Undoubtedly, yet it cannot be so. Erestor would never betray
Imladris.
Then he has sundered his bond to Orophin and Dambethnîn?
Nay, I cannot accept that either. He loves them. Ada has
misunderstood.
Elrond sighed. He could see it in their eyes; they rejected this
idea completely.
Still, they are my sons and they will not
gainsay my words. This ruse may yet succeed; I must be more
specific.
"I saw him with Legolas."
"What do you mean?" asked Elrohir, knowing already exactly what he
meant, hoping fervently to be proved wrong.
"With him, Elrohir, as in consorting with him, laying with him, shoving
his cock up the hecilo's arse, spilling his seed down the bastard's
throat, fucking that cast-off reprobate in as many ways as experience
and the dissipated creature's stamina, which apparently is quite
prodigious, will allow!"
The twins gasped at the unhidden virulence of their father's obscene
words, the seething anger and disgust, his unadulterated jealousy and
anguished sorrow, all of it was plain to their ears. They stared,
aghast and helpless in the face of this raw and oozing wound in
Elrond's flawless character. For several heartbeats they could
not even muster rational communication between themselves, trading only
their aggrieved horror to see this kind of baseness exposed in their
father.
"What of it?" Elrohir blurted angrily. "Erestor has been with
many elves and never betrayed a trust. You know this, Ada."
He
desires Ningloriel's child for himself?
"You are," Elladan swallowed before trying to go on, encouraged by the
strong pressure imparted by his counterpart's palm. "You are very
disturbed by this, Adar."
As if he and Erestor became rivals
for
the Wood Elf's affection.
"Of course I am disturbed by it!" the Elf Lord scoffed. "How do
you think I should respond to some bastard of common silvan blood
stealing Erestor away from his home, his loved ones, his mates?" He
uplifted his arms to underscore his exasperation over Elrohir's refusal
to comprehend reality, dropping them back to his knees with a slap as
his palms connected there.
"Stop," pleaded Elrohir and looked away from his father.
Aye
and
Ada lost.
"Nay, it is time for you to dispel the fantasy of Legolas from your
thoughts and replace it with the truth. Elrohir, he is just like
her. He let me fuck him after but two days spent in each other's
company and with little more coaxing than a meagre compliment or
two. He thereafter let Erestor bed him, using sex to lure our
seneschal into a compromising situation within Thranduil's stronghold."
"Far!" (Enough) Elladan shut his eyes and held up a hand to emphasise
his distaste for this topic. "I have no wish to hear this."
Elbereth! He has lain with that elf!
"You bedded him? He let you?" Elrohir could not encompass the
concept.
Nay, Adar would not take his lover's child as his
next
bed partner! "Why would you do such?"
"Let me? He demanded it! The second time was of his
offering as well. After that he seduced Erestor. He left us
and Erestor refused to come back with me. Legolas is unworthy of
your regard, Elrohir, and the sooner you accept this the easier the
days ahead will become."
"I will listen to no more!" Elladan stood and tore his hand free
from Elrohir, stalking toward the door. "None of it makes any
sense. I must mull this over in solitude, Adar."
"Wait!" Elrohir was on his feet and at his brother's side before the
handle of the door could be turned. "We will speak again later,
Adar," he called over his shoulder as they exited the study, leaving
behind an irate and dissatisfied Elf Lord.
Elrond knew he had not convinced them. If they went to Glorfindel
now they would realise the full extent of the deception he was
attempting.
I cannot let this happen. They must not
ever
know! With that to spur him, the Noldor Lord sprang from his
seat
and fairly bolted from the room, seeking his Master-at-Arms, hoping the
twins would feel the need to discuss the matter between themselves
before approaching the Balrog Slayer for his counsel.
Tbc.
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