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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux  by Fiondil

74: Trial’s Beginning

The sight of the High King’s brother being brought back to Vanyamar in the presence of warrior Maiar and bound shocked many and not a few wondered what had transpired to bring such a thing about. Tinwetariel, when she learned about her husband, flew into a rage, which proved her undoing, for in her fury she revealed more than she had intended to Ingwë who looked upon her with cold dispassion.

"I think, my dear, you have said quite enough." Ingwë spoke mildly, though his eyes glowed with a dangerous light. "You had best retire to your apartments until such time as I summon you. I will have guards placed before your doors to deter unwelcome visitors."

Tinwetariel paled at that, for she understood what Ingwë was actually saying. "I had nothing to do with any of this, sire," she said as contritely as she knew how, though it failed to move her brother-in-law.

"Indeed? Well, I’m sure it will all be straightened out at the trial," was Ingwë’s only comment. Tinwetariel paled even further and soon was being escorted back to her apartments.

As promised, Aldundil and Calalindalë were allowed to see their son. The visit lasted five minutes. Aldundil was mollified to see that Vorondil was not incarcerated in some dark and dank hole, though in truth, he reflected, it would have been nearly impossible to find such a place in Vanyamar. Instead, his son was being kept, along with the other prisoners, in a separate tower of the palace where they were accorded every luxury except their freedom. By necessity, each was housed in a separate room with a guard before each door. There was no communication between the prisoners but otherwise there was little for any to complain about.

Vorondil, of course, had plenty to complain about and spent most of the five minutes allowed for the visit weeping and wailing about the unfairness of it all and how he never touched the damn Reborn so why was he being punished and anyway it wasn’t as if he were guilty of Kinslaying or anything and....

By the end of the five minutes Aldundil was disgusted, disgusted with his son and disgusted with himself. Calalindalë merely wept and had to be physically pulled away from her son by Aldundil and the guard who stood outside Vorondil’s room.

Ingwë secluded himself for the next two days, refusing to speak to anyone who might be involved in the trial. He had those versed in the laws of the Eldar record the testimonies of those who had taken part in the Hunt as well as Glorfindel’s own story. The prisoners all refused to cooperate, though Vorondil still insisted that it was all a mistake and why wouldn’t anyone listen to him?

Unbeknown to Glorfindel, he was under constant guard, both by elves and Maiar. Ingwë did not wish the ellon to be accosted by Vanyar who might resent him and Manwë was concerned that the recent events might trigger another psychic break. Glorfindel was seen fingering his peridot ring rather frequently and acting somewhat nervous, starting at the slightest noise. The Maiar reported that the ellon refused to sleep without a candle burning through the night and more than once had woken yelling from a nightmare. Finrod and Sador had taken turns sleeping in the same room with him but their presence did not seem to bring him much comfort.

Tulcaner was captured the day after the Hunt and brought to Vanyamar by two of Oromë’s people. Ingwë deemed him the most dangerous of the prisoners and reluctantly ordered that he be chained by one ankle and no sharp implements be allowed in his presence. Thus, he was forced to eat with his fingers and was not allowed to use the privy but was given a chamber pot for his needs instead.

The day of the trial came and it was as if all of Aman wept at the necessity of it, for the sky was dark with rain clouds and thunder rolled ominously across the landscape, though there was no lightning. The trial was set for noon, but it could have been the middle of the night, so dark had it become outside. Thus, the throne room where the trial would take place was aglow with lights from crystal lamps. Rain spattered on the roof as the trial commenced.

If the trial for Sador’s kidnappers had been impressive, this one was more so. Ingwë and Arafinwë were clothed in regal splendour, their expressions solemn and grim. All looking upon the two kings had no doubt that they were indeed the lawful rulers of Eldamar and they would brook no dissent to their authority. Although, technically speaking, Arafinwë was a witness, Ingwë decided that the gravity of the situation demanded that he also be one of the judges.

"I fear that I am incapable of judging this alone... or perhaps I am too much the coward," Ingwë had confided to his nephew. Arafinwë had shaken his head.

"No, Uncle. You are no coward and having had Olwë by my side during the trial for Sador’s kidnappers helped immensely. I will be honored to assist you in this."

So, the two kings sat together and the grim majesty of their presence caused all to wonder. Besides the two kings, two others acted as Questioners for the Crown, sitting at a table before the thrones. One was Ingwë’s Steward, an elleth named Lindórië, the other was Lord Valandur, Findis’ husband. Rather than being dull and slow, as Vorondil had dismissively considered him, Valandur was regarded as one of Ingwë’s most astute loremasters and was highly respected among the Vanyar for his sagacity. Both were obviously well versed in the Laws and Customs of the Eldar.

The prisoners were brought in and allowed to sit. All were bound. Only Vorondil was gagged, for he refused to keep silent, his constant complaints annoying even his fellow prisoners. Aldundil refused to look at his son. Tulcaner was the only prisoner brought in in chains and he was set apart from the rest.

The Steward declared the trial open and read the charges against the prisoners collectively and individually for all to hear. Afterwards, she called for Glorfindel to give his testimony.

Glorfindel had dressed carefully for the trial in a severely plain tunic of green-grey worsted wool with only the simplest of embroidery along the hem, placket and sleeves in muted colors, mostly greens and browns with the occasional deep yellow or dark red for highlight. The plain linen shirt underneath was dyed a dark grey. His breeches were of leather, also dyed grey. Only the gemstones in his braids, glittering in the light of the crystal lamps, lent any brilliance to his attire.

As Glorfindel stood before the thrones waiting for the first question, there was a shimmer of light all around and then Lord Námo was there. All went to their knees, save for Ingwë and Arafinwë, who stood, giving the Vala their bows. Surprisingly, Glorfindel, Finrod and Sador also remained standing and bowed as well. Námo acknowledged their bows with a nod of his head and bade the others to rise.

All looked upon the Lord of Mandos in awe, many also in fear. He was dressed in an ankle-length velvet tunic of unrelieved black. Black fur trimmed the hem and three-quarter sleeves, as well as the high neck. The shirt underneath was black watered silk with black thread embroidery on the cuffs. The tunic was belted with isilsardi and amber. His blue-black hair was braided in fire opals, marillar and obsidian along with mithril beads and his head was crowned with a diadem of mithril in the shape of flames with a single ruby in its center. Around his neck was a pendant in gold and silver showing the Sun-in-Eclipse suspended on a mithril chain. Námo’s expression was solemn, but not grim, though few there were capable of looking at him directly, especially the prisoners.

Ingwë addressed the Lord of Mandos with another bow. "My lord, we give you greetings."

Námo did not smile, but his mien lightened somewhat. "Thank you, Ingwë. I am here as a representative for my fellow Valar."

"Will you then act as Judge in this matter?" Ingwë asked.

Námo shook his head. "No, at least not unless necessary. I am here to bear witness to my Lord Manwë of the justice of the Eldar and to declare the doom upon those found guilty of disrupting the Sérë Valaron."

It was at these words that many began to understand the gravity of the charges against the prisoners. Even Vorondil went still and nearly fainted when Námo turned his implacable gaze upon the prisoners, eyeing them one at a time.

Ingwë bowed again. "Then with your permission, lord, we will begin."

Námo nodded and the High King and the Noldóran sat. After everyone else had settled down, Glorfindel’s statement was read aloud by Valandur while copies of the statement were given to the Steward and the two kings. When the statement had been read, the questioning began.

"Why did you go to the Máhanaxar the second time, my lord?" Lindórië asked respectfully. "What did you hope to gain by going to such a deserted place?"

"I cannot adequately answer your question, my lady," Glorfindel said. "I only knew that I was feeling restless and needed to be somewhere. Yet, as I wandered through Eldamas and then into Valmar I knew I was being followed. I decided to make my way to a more secluded spot so as to avoid having innocent people hurt if whoever was following me wanted to harm me."

"You had no fears for yourself, then?" Lindorië asked.

Glorfindel smiled. "I had my knife."

The Steward looked nonplused at that. Many of the onlookers noticed the Lord of Mandos almost smiling at Glorfindel’s words.

"But why the Máhanaxar?" Valandur asked. "Why not some other remote place?"

Glorfindel cast a quick glance at Námo before turning his attention back to Valandur. "I had some... unresolved issues I needed to address." Then he turned to Námo fully, ignoring everyone else. "I made another connection, did you know that? Just before they showed up." There was no doubt as to whom he was referring. "I remembered something."

"And what did you remember, my son?" the Vala asked gently.

"I remembered you holding me at the end, when Judgment was over. You called me your son then as well."

"Do you remember your Judgment?" Námo asked.

Glorfindel shook his head. "Just the end when you held me and comforted me." He gazed at the Vala for a moment. "Will I ever remember my Judgment?"

Námo shook his head. "I do not know, child. That you remember as much as you do is remarkable given the short time you’ve been Reborn. Findaráto will tell you that he has only just begun to remember all that occurred within the Máhanaxar. If you are meant to remember the rest, you will. Take comfort in the memories you do have. With Judgment comes Forgiveness and Reconciliation and that is what you have remembered. Hold to that and all will be well with you."

Glorfindel nodded then turned back to face the High King’s throne. All there had listened with rapt attention to the conversation between the Noldo and the Lord of Mandos and marveled at their words. Many of the Vanyar looked upon Glorfindel and even Findaráto with new eyes and were dimly beginning to perceive what dying had cost them.

Ingwë cleared his throat. "Do you know why you were attacked, child?"

Glorfindel gave the High King an appraising look and there was something in the ellon’s eyes that reminded Ingwë that, newly Reborn though he might be, Glorfindel was no elfling, but a proven warrior who remembered the Light of the Trees and who had died in terrible agony.

"I was attacked because I am a Reborn," the ellon answered levelly, "but worse, because I am an Etyangol whom Lord Námo released from Mandos before those Noldor and Vanyar who fought and died in the War of Wrath."

"What role did Vorondil play in all this?" Lindorië asked.

Glorfindel shrugged. "I do not know, lady. If he did anything to me beyond watching me being beaten it was after I lost consciousness. What happened afterwards is beyond my ken."

"But not beyond mine," came a booming voice from nowhere in particular followed by a laugh.

Suddenly the throne room became almost too small for all of them as the Presence of Tulkas Astaldo made itself known. The golden-haired Vala stood before the throne next to Glorfindel who took an involuntary step to the left. Without bothering to look, Tulkas casually grabbed the ellon’s arm and pulled him into a rib-cracking embrace.

"Carefully, brother," Námo said with an air of infinite patience. "Don’t forget how fragile these Children are."

"Huh? Oh, yes, sorry," Tulkas released Glorfindel who wheezed a bit trying to get his breath back.

"My lord?" Lindórië asked, swallowing nervously when the Vala looked at her.

"I was there when it happened, Little One. I watched as three held down the Balrog-slayer while two beat him senseless. I had to be very firm with my warriors who wanted to come to our favorite elfling’s rescue." Here he stopped long enough to laugh again and wrap his arms around Glorfindel to give him another bone-crushing hug. Námo actually stepped forward and gave his brother Vala an understanding smile.

"Why don’t I hold him for you, brother? You’re likely to do him serious damage before you finish your testimony."

It took Tulkas a few seconds to realize what Námo was talking about before he quickly released Glorfindel from his embrace with another apology. The ellon had meanwhile turned an interesting shade of purple. He looked almost grateful when the Lord of Mandos took him into his own arms. Many of the elves shuddered, wondering which was worse, falling into Tulkas’ embrace or Námo’s.

"You were saying, my lord," Valandur said quietly once he saw that Glorfindel was safe in Námo’s arms. And I never thought I would actually think that was a good thing, he thought wryly to himself.

"It was I who made them forget this one’s knife so the princeling could find it," Tulkas replied. "And I watched as that one," he pointed a finger unerringly at Vorondil without even bothering to look, "kicked Glorfindel in the ribs, spat on him and then stole the lad’s ring."

"Ring?" Lindórië asked for she did not recall any mention of a ring in the elf’s testimony.

Námo lifted Glorfindel’s left hand. "This ring, to be precise," the Lord of Mandos said. "A gift from the Valar."

There were murmurs all around at that. Rare it was that any of the Eldar were gifted by the Valar in token of services rendered and then it was usually one Vala or another, but not all. Námo continued speaking, looking directly at Vorondil as he did, his voice as cold as the Helcaraxë.

"My Lord Manwë was most displeased when he was told of the theft... as was I."

No one was surprised when the ellon fainted.

Tulkas laughed and spread his arms wide. "You Children have much to learn. I wish you joy in the lessoning." Then he was gone and it suddenly became easier to breathe.

For several minutes no one moved or said anything. Námo kissed the top of Glorfindel’s head and released him from his embrace with a small smile, which the ellon returned.

"Do you have any further questions for me, arani meletyaldar?" Glorfindel asked respectfully.

Ingwë looked at Arafinwë who shook his head, then turned back to Glorfindel. "Nay, child. We have no further questions for you." He glanced at the still unconscious Vorondil who was being looked after by a healer and sighed. "Let us have a fifteen minute recess."

The two kings rose and all bowed to them as they made their way out of the throne room. Glorfindel gave Námo a grin and went to join his friends.

"Well that went better than I thought," Glorfindel said with a sigh of relief.

Ingwion shook his head. "The trial is far from over, otornya. Your testimony was merely the first."

"I wonder who they will call next?" Alassiel asked curiously.

Glorfindel gave her a meaningful look. "I’m wondering which of the Valar will show up next."

They all shuddered at the implications of the ellon’s words. Glorfindel gave them his most winning grin and then laughed, twirling around so that his braids sparkled in the crystalline brilliance of the light globes. The onlookers watched the ellon spin about, mesmerized, lost in the interplay of light shimmering around the Reborn elf.

Fifteen minutes later, after Vorondil had finally been revived, Ingwë and Arafinwë returned and the trial resumed.

****

Isilsardi: (Quenya) Plural of isilsar: moonstone. A symbol of truth in self-reflection and showing what ‘is’ [isil ‘moon’ + sar ‘stone’].

Amber: Among other things, it signifies the presence of Eru Ilúvatar.

Opals: A symbol of faithfulness.

Marillar: (Quenya) Plural of marilla: pearl. A symbol of purity and innocence.

Obsidian: Associated in our world with Hades, Greek god of the Underworld, and thus an appropriate gemstone for the Lord of Mandos. It gives one strength to stand on one’s own convictions against any enemy (hidden or otherwise).

Ruby: Considered to be the most powerful gem in the universe. It is a symbol of royalty and it gives the wearer the ability to see things in a true and correct manner.

Arani meletyaldar: (Quenya) Your Majesties.





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