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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux  by Fiondil

120: Interlude With Elflings

Finrod and Glorfindel made their way back to the encampment, picking up Ingwion and Aldundil along the way. Finrod threw an arm around Ingwion and smiled.

"It looks as if you and I are destined to be counted among the losers."

"You would’ve won that match but for Glorfindel’s trick," Ingwion said with a laugh.

Glorfindel said nothing, merely smiled. Aldundil gave Finrod a rueful glance. "I’m afraid Vorondil took my losing the first round rather hard, aranya. I tried to explain how the tournament works but I don’t think he was convinced that losing doesn’t mean failing."

Finrod nodded. "I will speak to him, Aldundil, if you wish." The Noldorin warrior nodded his thanks.

They entered the compound to see the elflings under the watchful eyes of Alassiel and Sador helping to put the noon meal together. The two ellith were setting the table while the three ellyn were in the cooking tent, following Sador’s instructions. When Finrod and the others approached, Sador looked up with a smile.

"So how did it go?" he asked them.

Finrod pointed to Glorfindel. "Our brother won his match," he said, "but the rest of us didn’t fare as well." Glorfindel tried not to smirk but failed miserably.

Sador raised an eyebrow. "Well, I’m sure you’ll all do better in the next round."

"But only one of us will make it to the final round," Finrod acknowledged.

Before anyone could reply to that Veryandur spoke up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "B-but y-you can’t lose. Y-you’re a king!"

The ellon started crying, much to the other two ellyn’s disgust. "What a baby," Oromendil muttered and Sorondil nodded. Finrod, however, gave them a cool stare that unsettled them even as he gathered Veryandur into his arms.

"Now, now, there’s no need for tears, Little One," he crooned. "Kings can lose just as easily as anyone else, and all it means is that I now lead my own team of warriors, including Prince Ingwion."

Veryandur stilled his tears, giving them all a considering look. "Y-you’re the leader?" he asked uncertainly.

Finrod nodded and so did Ingwion when the elfling gave him a glance. "Findaráto is the highest ranking warrior for our team, so he is our leader," Ingwion explained.

That seemed to mollify the youngster. Finrod gave the ellon a brief hug and stood up, letting the child go. "Now, I believe you were all putting luncheon together," he said in a no-nonsense tone and Veryandur nodded, as did the other two elflings.

"S-sorry..." Veryandur began to stammer but Finrod put a gentle finger on the ellon’s lips.

"Tush, child. There’s nothing to be sorry about. I am gratified that you felt concern on my behalf, but I assure you all is well. Now, let’s eat."

With that, the elflings scurried about to put the luncheon on the table and in short order Finrod and the other adults were sitting down to the repast. The five elflings were made to stand to one side while the adults ate. Vorondil was not there, nor were Laurendil and Manwen, for they were tending to some of the scrapes and bruises gotten by the warriors during the morning and Vëantur still needed tending. He had come out of his swoon and was now resting comfortably with Vorondil keeping a close eye on him. Lord Irmo and Lady Estë had looked in on the ellon and assured that all was well, had left the elves to themselves. Lord Irmo lingered long enough to give Vorondil a few words of encouragement, telling the ellon how pleased he was with Vorondil’s progress as an apprentice. The Vala left the ellon beaming for all he was worth, much to the other healers’ amusement.

Finrod watched the elflings from the corner of his eye, even as he continued his discussion with Ingwion on the possibility of translating some of the lore from Beleriand into Quenya. Ingwion thought it would be a good idea to have such translations available to the Amanian elves, though Finrod opined that it would be better for them to learn Sindarin and read the texts in the original.

"That’s what I hope to do myself," Ingwion said and Finrod nodded his approval. As expected, the elflings were not taking to standing still for very long and they all tried not to fidget. Veryandur had retrieved his stuffed toy from somewhere and was whispering something in its ear while Eruanna and Lindorillë were giggling over something that only they found amusing. The other two ellyn simply looked bored and restive. Sador had assured Finrod that the elflings had all eaten a hearty breakfast and he had encouraged them to nibble on fruit and cheese throughout the morning, knowing that Finrod would have them stand attendance as part of their training.

"Or punishment, depending on how you want to look at it," Sador had said with a grin.

Finrod had nodded and laughed. "That, too."

Sador spoke up just then, giving Finrod a wicked grin. "The tailor came by while you were out playing," — Finrod threw back his head and laughed and the others joined in — "and he says he will have Veryandur and Eruanna’s tabards ready by tomorrow. He noticed the other three elflings and wondered why you did not have them fitted for tabards as well."

"What did you tell him?" Finrod asked as he took a sip of wine.

Sador shrugged. "I told him you had other plans for them and assured him that the two tabards were all that were required of him at this point."

Finrod nodded even as he noticed all five elflings had stopped their fidgeting, blatantly listening to the conversation. Lindorillë turned white at Sador’s words and started to tremble, fear coursing through her. The two older ellyn looked concerned but not frightened, not knowing about Lindorillë’s conversation with their lord earlier. Finrod put his wine goblet down and gestured to Lindorillë to approach him, but the elleth started backing away, shaking her head in denial. When Finrod made to stand she gave a shriek and actually ran from the pavilion. Glorfindel, at the other end of the table was up and after her before anyone else could move. The other elflings stood rooted in shock and the rest of the adults quickly got up and gathered them in their arms to give them whatever comfort they could. Glorfindel returned with a still screaming Lindorillë and Finrod had to Sing her into sleep.

"What was that all about?" Sador demanded, looking almost as distraught as the elflings.

"It’s not your fault, Sador," Finrod said soothingly even as he held a weeping Veryandur. "Lindorillë misinterpreted your words."

"Misinterpreted... how..."

Finrod shook his head. "It matters not, only that she did. Come, let us put these children to bed. They are all distraught and a long nap will do them a world of good."

With that he strode out of the pavilion with Veryandur in his arms and the others followed suit. The three ellyn were placed in Laurendil’s tent and were soon fast asleep; Veryandur snuggled up with his stuffed toy. Lindorillë and Eruanna were taken to Alassiel’s tent and soon Eruanna was as fast asleep as the older elleth, her doll nestled in her arms. The adults returned to the main pavilion and resumed their seats. When Sador again demanded an explanation, Finrod told him what had passed between Lindorillë and himself earlier. Only Alassiel did not look shocked, having been there when Finrod had confronted the younger elleth.

"Do these... these Amanian elves truly believe we would do such a thing?" Glorfindel asked in disbelief.

"But we have," Finrod answered with a shake of his head, "or at least some of us have from what I have heard. Much evil was done for the sake of Fëanor’s Oath. The Amanians are correct to wonder, though I had hoped that by now we would have gotten past all that."

Sador shook his head. "I fear that it will take some time for such ideas to fade away completely. Perhaps while they are under your tutelage, these elflings will learn the truth."

"Valandur told me that I couldn’t change the minds of all the Amanians," Glorfindel added musingly, "but I could change the mind of one elf." He gave Finrod a considering look. "You have six elflings who hopefully will learn the truth from you."

"And those six will someday teach others the truth as well," Finrod said with a nod. "We have to begin somewhere to change the attitudes of the Amanians towards the Reborn and the Tol Eressëans. We are all together now, no longer separated by an unforgiving sea. We must learn to live in harmony, accepting the differences and taking joy in them instead of disparaging them and wishing all was as before."

Glorfindel snorted. "As I recall, it wasn’t all that peaceful even under the Light of the Two Trees. Your uncle Fëanáro made sure of that."

Finrod nodded and sighed. "That is certainly true." Then he gave himself a mental shake and poured some more wine into his goblet. "Let us resume our previous conversation and our meal. I would be rested for this afternoon’s match. Calmacil will be a most challenging opponent from what I saw of his match against you, Glorfindel."

Glorfindel nodded in agreement. "He is a worthy opponent."

Then the elves began dissecting the morning’s battles as they continued to enjoy their luncheon while five elflings slept on, oblivious to it all.

****

An hour before the afternoon match was to begin, Finrod gently brought the elflings out of their induced sleep, starting with Lindorillë. She had slept with her eyes closed and was blinking them sleepily as Finrod sat there patiently, waiting for her to waken all the way so he could speak with her. When she saw him, her eyes widened and she started to whimper but Finrod put a finger to his lips, pointing to Eruanna.

"Shh," he whispered conspiratorially. "Eruanna still sleeps."

Lindorillë looked over to see the younger elleth nestled with her doll, a soft smile on her face as she continued dancing along the Path of Dreams and then gave Finrod a considering look. He nodded. "You and I must have an understanding, child," he said, continuing to speak in low tones. "I told you that none of you will be harmed while in my service."

"S-sador said..." she started to say.

Finrod shook his head. "All Sador meant was that you will be going with my atar back to Tirion and he will see to whatever livery will be required for you to wear. You must not read into our words more than what is meant. I’m sorry Sador’s words upset you, but you must believe me that none here will ever do anything to you to shame you."

He let her think about that as he bent over Eruanna and gently called her back from sleep. The elleth focused her eyes and smiled sleepily at her lord as he brushed a hand through her locks. "Time to wake up, child," he said quietly. "You don’t want to miss seeing this afternoon’s match, do you?"

That woke the child completely and she sat up, her eyes wide with anticipation. "Truly?" she exclaimed.

Finrod nodded, giving both ellith a fond smile. "So, get yourselves cleaned up as we’ll be leaving soon."

He left them to go wake the ellyn. In a short while the elves of the encampment were amused to see five elflings trailing behind Finrod and Glorfindel like so many chicks with Eruanna, walking next to Alassiel, asking one question after another. Sador brought up the rear, a huge grin on his face.





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