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Blue Vaults of Varda
by Caethieu
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Summary: My variation on the theme of Elrond and Gil-galad's relationship. This chapter entails some of the first dialogue between them.

Notes: 1)I've made minor revisions to the first two chapters, mostly for better coherence.
2)Reviews would be great. If you don't care for it, I won't be offended, but I'd like to know why, so I can improve and possibly write something you enjoy.


Chapter 3: Conversations

Elrond was alone, running through the streets of Sirion, looking for Elwing. He turned the corner, and suddenly blood, like veins, flowed between the cobblestones and bodies littered the streets. He heard an adult voice say "Where is that child? He can't be far." He knew they were looking for him so he ran into an empty house and hid in the closet. It wasn't long before he heard footsteps in the house and the closet door was swung open. There were two big men armed with swords. One bound his wrists and carried him through the city kicking and screaming. The other had Elros and carried him away the opposite direction. "Elerosse!" Elrond cried, but in vain. The soldier brought him before Maedhros, who was on horseback, and set him down. "Where's Nana?" Elrond demanded. Just then, a seagull squawked and Elrond looked over towards it, just in time to see Elwing jump into the sea. "She is gone. You shall come with us as ransom for the Silmaril." "The Silmaril is gone!" Elrond shouted. "You shall not find it now!" The guard lifted him to Maedhros. "Then you should have to abide with us forever." Elrond struggled, but Maedhros only held him tighter. "Nana! Ada!" Elrond shouted.


Círdan awoke to the sound of strangled cries. As soon as he realized the sound was coming from the Peredhil's room he was out the door. When he reached the room, he saw Elros out of bed holding his brother's hand and trying to comfort him. "He had another night-terror, Ada," Elros explained before he could ask. Círdan knelt by Elrond's bed. "Tell me about your dream, Elrond."

"I dreamed of Sirion. I was alone and the streets were flowing with blood. I tried to hide from the guards but they found me and bound my wrists and took me to Maitimo(1). They had Elros, too, and they took him somewhere else. Maitimo put me up on his horse and then I woke up." Elrond's voice trembled with the memory.

Círdan frowned. Clearly his experience with Gil-galad's guards yesterday had brought to mind his treatment in the hands of Maedhros. He would have a word with Gil-galad. "I am sorry, child. You are safe here, out of the reach of the sons of Feanor."

"I don't want to go back to sleep, Círdan. I don't want to dream about that again." Elrond sobbed.

"That is well, child, for it is time for you to get dressed before you breakfast with Gil-galad." He went to Elrond's wardrobe and pulled out leggings, a tunic, and a mantle for him to wear. Círdan called in a chambermaid who brought fresh water. After helping Elrond to wash and dress, she braided his hair and left. Elros had fallen back asleep, so Círdan guided Elrond out the door silently.


Gil-galad was pacing, thinking over the day's itinerary when he heard a knock at his door. "Enter," he called. "Ah, Círdan, Elrond, Suliad," he greeted when he saw them.

They bowed, and Círdan replied, "Good morning, Ereinion. A word, please, before I leave you."

Gil-galad nodded his consent, and then addressed Elrond: "Take a seat at the table. We will eat shortly." After Elrond had left, Gil-galad spoke to Círdan, "What is it, my lord?"

Círdan spoke gravely. "Elrond dreamt of the Kinslaying at Sirion and his abduction last night. I am concerned that his capture by your guards yesterday recalled his capture by Maedhros.

"That was certainly not intended." Gil-galad looked ashamed. "What should I do?"

"Tread lightly, Ereinion. He is yet a child."

"Perhaps I was harsh yesterday. I shall be careful." He sighed. "His room will be ready when we return. I have arranged for his belongings to be moved while we are gone."

"Where is his new room?"

"I have given him the room to the left of mine. It is adjoined to mine, but he has his own entrance."

"Very well. May I bid him farewell?"

"Of course."

"Enjoy your meeting with the Lady Alatariel(2), Elrond. I think you will like her," Círdan said as he knelt by the chair Elrond sat in.

Elrond, nervous though he was, gave him a brave smile. "Goodbye, Círdan. I shall see you tonight."

"I am afraid not, Elrond." Elrond's face fell. "You will not likely return before then, and if you do, you will sleep in the palace tonight."

Elrond nodded, "Then I shall see you when I see you." As Elrond watched Círdan leave, he felt a great sense of loss.


Elrond walked up to the deck of the ship in the twilight. He had sailed only once before, and he was drawn to the lull of the waves. He started to approach the stern, but saw Gil-galad there, and he started to walk away, but Gil-galad turned and motioned him forward. "Tula, Elerondo, ar á aista eressëa Elda otornasselyanen,"(3) he spoke in Quenya, imitating his own father.

"Are you lonely, my king?" Elrond asked, and Gil-galad replied: "Aye, the sea speaks naught to me this day." Elrond wondered at this, but was silent. He watched an albatross glide nearby, low over the grey sea. Gil-galad followed his eyes. "Remember you aught of your mother, Elrond?" he asked softly.

"I remember her admonishments when I was reluctant to greet Adar on his return. And...I remember her leap into the sea." Elrond's voice was bitter. Gil-galad pressed him, "Surely you have happier memories?" Elrond hesitated. "I remember the first time she showed us the Silmaril. And the time that she taught us the stars, and the sound of her voice when she sang." The king was pleased to see the shadow of a smile that formed when Elrond spoke of these memories. "And what of your sire?" he ventured. "I remember his smile and the majesty of his bearing. I admired his beauty." Gil-galad grinned, "And rightly so: for it was legendary. A worthy inheritance."

"For him, or for me?" Elrond asked, and Gil-galad replied cryptically: "Both, perhaps. But time will tell." His mind drifted back to the day's business. "What do you know of the Lady Galadriel?"

"Hmm?" Elrond asked.

"The Lady Artanis," Gil-galad amended, "Celeborn's name for her."(4)

Elrond's face lit up with understanding. "I know that she is the daughter of Arafinwë, (5) and the mightiest of the Calaquendi still here, except for Irime."(6)

Gil-galad nodded. "Both correct."

Elrond continued, "She lived in Doriath and was Melian's student. It is said that she has a mirror that tells past, present, and future."

Gil-galad did not hide his surprise. "Indeed, it belonged to Melian, but that is not widely known. How did you learn of it?"

Elrond replied, "Makalaurë(7) said 'twas so. He sang often of the Lady Artanis. I think he admires her."

Gil-galad smirked. "Then he takes after his father."

The sun was now rising in its full glory of rose and gold. Earendil's star still shown brightly. Elrond spoke, "Will you tell Lady Artanis of yesterday, my Lord?"

The king's face softened, but he replied, "Yes, Elrond, I will tell her. That is another matter on which I wish to seek her advice." Gil-galad remembered the dream Círdan spoke of, "Which reminds me: Círdan told me of your night-terror. He suggested that the events yesterday might have reminded you of your capture by the sons of Fëanor. If that be so, then I am sorry." He looked to Elrond.

"It is only in dreams that I remember our capture, my Lord."

"You have such night-terrors often?"

Elrond nodded. "More than my brother. I have a lot of good dreams too, though."

Gil-galad's interest was genuine: "I would like to hear about those dreams sometime." And so, I think, would Galadriel, he mentally added. Gil-galad looked troubled for a moment, and then he asked, "Do you think I was too harsh with you yesterday? You may speak without fear of requital."

Elrond was surprised at the question. "No, my Lord. I was not contrite when I came before you. Your anger and judgement were well-deserved."

"Aye, but you are a child."

"Many boys vie to be a royal page. It is hardly punishment."

"If you think you are to have it so easy, you are mistaken. You are not a page, nor will you ever be one. Pages work in the kitchens, refill cups at dinner, and do petty errands. It is true, pages are under the severe authority of their page-masters, but never the totalitarian control of an individual. Even pages serve in cycles. You have two years of hard work at my beck and call to look forward to, with no out. I will have time to learn your abilities intimately and your chores will push you to your limits."

Elrond swallowed, trying to digest this. "If I am not to be a page, then what is to become of me in two years?"

Gil-galad understood and replied, "My judgement yesterday was not made with the intention of fettering your development or having consequences upon your future. I will take good care of you, Elrond. I will see to it that you develop all the necessary skills. Theoretically, you cold join the pages in two years, but you would feel out of place and, alone, and...bored. Nay, you shall not be a page, but that will not affect your prospects for advancement. We shall speak more then of this when the time comes. We are now approaching the mainland, though, and you may accompany me to the helm while I speak with the captain."


The mainland looked much the same as Balar, except that it was not surrounded by water. Gil-galad pointed out the marble arches up ahead. "That is where the Lady Artanis and the Lord Celeborn dwell."

The sun was yet low when they came to a narrow bridge and led their mounts across it, horses arrayed in golden headstalls with flowers braided in their manes, that were waiting for them when the ship docked. Galadriel and Celeborn stood at the top of the steps to meet them and Elrond marveled at their majesty. "Greetings and well-come, my Lord Gil-galad, and Elrond, heir of Luthien," Celeborn said.

Galadriel continued, "Pray, enter, lords, for we have much to speak about." And silently, to Gil-galad she spoke thus: "War will soon be upon us again. The Northern tribes of Elves and Men are already forced to defend themselves and Angband casts it shadow even upon the Mouth of Sirion." And to Elrond also she spoke silently: "In you has Melian chosen to live on, child, though your feä glows brightly with the blood of Turgon, too. Perelda(8) though you may be, your place will be among the great of the Eldar."


Later, Gil-galad and Galadriel were in conference. "This have I seen in my mirror: the manacles that held Elrond yester-morn are still strong, and yet they are bonds of love and care despite the child's defiance and resentment. As strong, perhaps, as those between the house of Finrod and the house of Bëor." She paused and then asked, "What has become of the Ring of Barahir?"

"Círdan keeps it, and many other heirlooms, until the Peredhil come of age."

"Then Elros will receive it. I sense that he is determined to live among Men."

"He will not be separated from his brother in that way. They have great love for each other."

"But, such separation is, perhaps, fated, nonetheless."


Notes:

[1] Maedhros' Quenya mother-name. He would not have used his father-name, Nelyafinwë, as that means "Third Finwë" or "Third King," and that is no longer possible as he is among the Dispossessed.

[2] Galadriel's Telerin name.

[3] Come, Elrond, and grace a lonely Elf with your company.

[4] I like to imagine that the name Galadriel was not well-known in the first age, being more-or-less a private name from Celeborn. Thus, Gil-galad did not think it strange that Elrond wasn't familiar with it.

[5] Quenya for Finarfin.

[6] A Finwean that relatively little is known about. Irimë is the daugther of Finwë who came to Middle Earth with her brother, Fingolfin. If she indeed still lived at the time of our story, she would be the highest ranking in Middle Earth. Elrond seems to have (*cough*) forgotten Gildor Inglorion, but he is somewhere in Middle Earth too.

[7]Quenya for Maglor (his mother-name, actually). I'm trying to be realistic. Elrond has lived with the sons of Feanor for most of the time he was building language formation skills, and I doubt that the Sons of Feanor speak much Sindarin. If the unfamilar forms annoy you, they might have made Gil-galad take a double take as well (I might have fun with that later...).

[8]Quenya for Peredhel, Half-Elf.

Continued...

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