34: Leaving Lórien

The news that Sador and Beleg had decided to return to Tirion without waiting for the escort and that Glorfindel was accompanying them was not received very well by Finrod, who stared at the three ellyn with grave suspicion.

"I see," he said. "And why this sudden... maturity?"

Glorfindel shrugged. "I pointed out to them that returning under their own power would be less humiliating than having to go back under armed guard."

Finrod gave Glorfindel a surprised look. "Indeed? And your decision to accompany them is motivated by what exactly?"

Glorfindel grimaced. "By the fact that I’m being snubbed by the Valar with their refusal to let me see Ingwion. I cannot see the point of staying here in Lórien any longer than I need to. It’s time I returned to Tirion and resumed my duties there."

For a long moment silence stretched between them as the two stared at one another. Finally, Finrod nodded. "That sounds reasonable." Then he turned to Beleg and Sador. "And you agreed to this?"

Both ellyn nodded. "We knew we couldn’t get away with it for too long," Beleg said, "and it would be better if the escort meets us along the way."

"At least that’s what Glorfindel said," Sador added.

Finrod nodded. "Yes, it would be better for all concerned." He sighed. "Well, I won’t say I’m glad you’re going, because I’m not. If my own duties didn’t keep me here...."

"That’s all right, hanno," Sador said, giving Finrod a hug. "You should plan to bring the elflings to Tirion for the Midsummer festivities."

"Perhaps I will," Finrod said with a smile. "When will you leave?"

"Tomorrow at first light," Glorfindel answered. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll get there."

Finrod nodded. "Then we should plan a feast for tonight. I’ll ask Laurendil and Manwen to come, and the elflings, of course."

"It’ll make for a crowded table," Glorfindel said with a sigh, wondering who else Finrod was planning to invite to the feast. He would have preferred a quiet dinner with just the four of them along with Laurendil and Manwen.

"The elflings will miss you," Finrod replied, giving him a frown, "you know that, so it’s only fair that they are present for the farewell feast."

"I wouldn’t want it any other way," Glorfindel said with a gracious smile. Finrod nodded and then went off to make the arrangements, leaving the other three behind.

Beleg and Sador stared at Glorfindel with respect. "That went better than I expected," Beleg said. "I was sure he would insist on a real escort."

Glorfindel shook his head, a smirk on his face. "Finrod trusts me."

"He’s not going to trust you after this, though," Sador said with a shrewd look. "Can you really afford to lose his favor?"

"He’ll be the first to understand, and the first to forgive," was Glorfindel’s reply.

"Well, that was the easy part," Beleg said. "We still have to make those other arrangements of which you spoke and there is not much time to implement them."

"Come, then," Glorfindel said, motioning Beleg and Sador towards the grove’s entrance. "Let us put the second part of our plan into motion while Finrod is still away. I’ll leave a note letting him know that we’ve gone to see to the horses and make sure all is ready for the journey, which won’t actually be a lie, just not the whole truth." He went to Finrod’s writing desk and quickly wrote a note before following Beleg and Sador out of the pavilion.

****

They made their way along the sward leading towards the groves of the Reborn. Beleg and Sador were comparing notes on their time in Lórien, but Glorfindel was only half listening to their talk. He was thinking of what they were planning and wondering if perhaps he was being stupid about it all, yet, when he thought how the Valar were denying him a simple request without giving any good reason for it, he decided that this was the only course of action left open to him. He needed to see Ingwion, sooner rather than later. He wasn’t sure why, yet the very fact that the Valar were keeping them apart was telling.

His thoughts were interrupted when they entered a particular grove. "I remember this grove," Sador said suddenly turning to Glorfindel. "This is where we lived, you and I."

Glorfindel nodded. "Celepharn lives here now with a couple of others. I’m hoping to find him alone. It will be easier to explain things to him if he is."

The others nodded. Then they were in front of the pavilion and Glorfindel called out. In a moment Celepharn came out, looking puzzled and pleased at the same time. "Glorfindel," he said, "what are you doing here, mellon nîn? Is something wrong?"

"No, nothing," Glorfindel replied with a smile. "Do you remember Sador? And I think you know Beleg. They’ve come for a brief visit."

Celepharn nodded at Beleg, giving him a brief smile, which the other returned. "I’m surprised to see you back here so soon, mellon nîn," he said. "Don’t you like it outside Lórien?"

Beleg laughed. "I like it well enough. I came with Sador to visit Finrod and Glorfindel. You remember me telling you about them when we were all in the Halls of Mandos together?"

Celepharn nodded then turned to Sador and his eyes widened at the sight of the single warrior’s braid. He gazed at it in puzzlement and started to reach out to touch it, then drew back, suddenly blushing and refusing to look anyone in the eye. "I’m sorry," he whispered, "I was not...."

Sador shook his head and took the other ellon’s hands into his. "There is no need to apologize," he said softly, a look a sympathy on his face. "I am only glad that you’ve returned to us. Are you going to be released soon do you know?"

Celepharn shook his head and sighed. "No, not yet. I’ve asked but everyone says it’s not yet time." He grimaced at the thought.

"Well, it will happen when it happens," Glorfindel said with a smile. "In the meantime, we were wondering if you could help us with a little problem we’re having."

Celepharn gave the three ellyn a considering look and then nodded, stepping aside and gesturing for them to enter the pavilion. "Why don’t we get comfortable and you can tell me all about it?"

****

The feast that evening was lively. The elflings were especially happy to see Sador but sad that he was leaving so soon.

"I only came to bring Glorfindel back with us," Sador said with a smile. "He’s needed in Tirion."

At that the elflings then latched onto Glorfindel, giving him all kinds of useless and uninformed advice which had the adults struggling not to laugh while Glorfindel just sat there nodding sagely.

"...and don’t forget to take your favorite blankie with you," Veryandur said at the last. "You know you don’t sleep well unless you have your favorite blankie."

"I don’t?" Glorfindel asked, feigning surprise.

Veryandur nodded. "You’re always complaining to Lord Findaráto about it, ’cause he’s always taking it on you. We’ve heard you." The other elflings all nodded.

Glorfindel and Finrod exchanged embarrassed looks while the other adults watched with amusement. The former Balrog-slayer turned back to Veryandur and nodded gravely. "I’ll be sure to pack it first thing tomorrow."

The elflings all beamed, glad that this particular adult was taking them seriously. Then Finrod announced it was time to eat and the elflings all rushed to help bring the food to the table.

Later, after the children were safely abed and Finrod, Glorfindel, Beleg and Sador were preparing for sleep themselves, Finrod gestured to the pile of blankets on their own cots. "So which one of these is your favorite blankie?" he asked with a sly grin.

Glorfindel smirked. "All of them."

The others laughed and when Sador grabbed a blanket and threw it at Glorfindel the other two followed suit. Soon Glorfindel was covered with blankets and when the other three tried to remove them he laughingly fought them off so they were playing a three-way tug-of-war with him. It was some time before they settled down to sleep.

****

They were ready to leave the next morning just as Anar was breaching the horizon to the east. Grey clouds were streaked with gold and red as the sky turned from black to azure and the stars faded from sight. A slight cool breeze rose and there was a hint of rain in the offing.

"Hopefully, we won’t end up sleeping in the wet tonight," Sador said in a low voice to Beleg as they readied their horses.

"It may bypass us altogether," Beleg replied, looking westward where the clouds were still dark with fading night. "It seems to be coming from the northwest. We’ll be heading due east."

"For a time," Sador whispered and Beleg nodded.

Finrod was making his farewells to Glorfindel in the meantime. "Are you sure about this, hánonya?" he asked, giving Glorfindel a hard stare, still somewhat suspicious of his brother’s motives.

Glorfindel gazed back serenely and nodded. "I’m just idling here in Lórien. I might as well return to Tirion as originally planned and make myself useful."

Silence stretched between them for a long moment and then Finrod embraced Glorfindel. "Go carefully, hanno," he whispered. "Watch out for Sador and Beleg, they’re both still young."

Glorfindel stepped back, giving Finrod a quizzical look, wondering if this once king of Nargothrond knew more than he was letting on, but in the end, he merely nodded. "I will. I promise." Then he was on his horse and the three were ready to set off when a swirl of bright lights alerted everyone to the presence of at least one of the Valar.

It was Irmo, along with Manveru, Roimendil and Vanimeldë. The presence of these particular Maiar, rather than some of the Vala's own, surprised them all. The elves gave him their obeisance and Irmo nodded in greeting, then gestured to the Maiar. "These will see you safely back to Tirion," he said.

Beleg and Sador both groaned in dismay while Glorfindel suppressed a sigh. "We’re quite capable of finding our way back without help, my lord," he protested. "If you want us to start acting maturely you might start by not treating us as if we were still elflings."

If Irmo was offended by Glorfindel’s words or his tone he did not show it. "Nevertheless, you will be escorted at least until Arafinwë’s men find you."

The three elves all grimaced, but otherwise did not offer any other protests. "Well, let’s go if we’re going," was all Glorfindel said and without offering Irmo his respect he turned his horse around and headed away. Beleg and Sador hesitated for a moment and then giving Irmo brief bows they followed Glorfindel. The three Maiar gave the Vala amused looks and strode after their charges, easily able to keep up with the pace Glorfindel had set.

Finrod turned to Irmo with a quizzical look. "They’re up to something and you’re planning on forestalling them." It wasn’t a question.

Irmo gazed serenely at Finrod then gestured for the elf to walk with him back to the groves. "Glorfindel is always up to something. As for the Maiar... they’re just there for show."

"I don’t understand," Finrod said with a frown.

"You will soon enough," was the Vala’s enigmatic reply and Finrod was wise enough to know that he would get no other information out of him so he dropped the subject and the two spoke of other things concerning Arda.

****

They were only an hour from Lórien when the Maiar suddenly stopped, looks of deep concentration on their faces as they were obviously in silent communication with someone. Then Vanimeldë’s expression cleared and she turned to the elves. "We must return to Lórien," she said.

"Return?" Glorfindel asked, looking none too pleased. "We’re not returning anywhere. Go back if you must but we are going on."

"It is necessary...." Manveru started to say.

"Necessary for whom?" Glorfindel nearly shouted, suddenly angry. "Go back yourselves, but we’re going on or, if you wish, we will wait here."

The three Maiar exchanged brief looks. They could not force the elves to do their bidding and they could not ignore the summons from Lord Irmo. Manveru gave the ellyn a hard stare. "You will remain here?"

All three elves nodded.

"Very well," the warrior Maia said. "We will return when we can." With that the three Maiar faded from view.

The elves sat on their horses, silently waiting to see if the Maiar would reappear. When some minutes had gone by with no Maiar in sight Glorfindel turned to the other two with a grin. "I think it worked. By now, Celepharn and the other Reborn are wreaking havoc all over Lórien."

"I just hope they don’t get into serious trouble on our account," Sador said with a frown. "They do not deserve punishment."

"Lord Irmo won’t punish them," Beleg said with confidence.

"And Finrod will be so busy helping to calm them down with his singing and harp-playing, he won’t have a chance to wonder at the timing," Glorfindel added. "Now, let us hurry. We must be off."

"We did promise them we would wait here, though," Sador said, feeling uneasy about breaking a promise to the Maiar.

"But we never said for how long, did we?" Glorfindel pointed out reasonably even as he gave Sador a wicked grin.

The younger ellon grinned back. "I guess not."

With that they urged their horses back along the way they had come, but then veered southwest. It was their intention to reach Lady Nienna’s house by a less direct route. Glorfindel reasoned that when the search for them commenced the most logical route of the search would be along the western road leading directly to Nienna’s place. Heading southwest, skirting Lórien to the north and Mandos to the south, the elves figured they would be safe from pursuit.

"Of course, all they have to do is wait for us at Lady Nienna’s," Beleg had pointed out as they were planning their course of action.

"Assuming they think we would go that way," Sador had added.

"And only if we don’t get there first," Glorfindel had replied.

As they made their way cross country Glorfindel glanced worriedly towards the northwest where the clouds were darkening towards a storm and it was obvious it was moving towards them. "Let’s hope we don’t get caught in that," he said pointing to the approaching clouds. "Come. We have many leagues yet to travel."

So now they made the best speed they could over the rough terrain which for the most part was level. By mid-afternoon, however, the land began to rise as they came to a series of low rolling hills covered with dark pine. The sky was now purple-black with threatening clouds as the storm came barreling down on them. There was no rain as yet, but flashes of lightning lit the sky and the ominous roll of thunder echoed off the sides of the hills.

"We’ll need to find shelter soon," Sador suggested. "This storm looks bad."

Glorfindel glared up at the clouds in frustration. "I was hoping to make it to Lady Nienna’s sooner rather than later. If we stop for this storm we’ll never get there before they find us out."

"Can’t be helped," Beleg said, casting a knowing eye to the skies. "If this storm hits while we’re still riding...."

The other two nodded, well aware of what Beleg meant. With a disgruntled sigh, Glorfindel pointed ahead where two hills came together. "Let’s make for that cleft there. We might be able to find shelter. I only hope the storm doesn’t last all night."

The others were in agreement with that and shortly they reached the cleft between the two hills. There was the distant sound of rushing water and with little encouragement it was decided to see if they could find its source, so they made their slow way in the gathering gloom through the cleft until they found themselves looking down into a mist-shrouded valley. Just as they were making their way to the valley floor there was a flash of lightning above them, followed by a peal of thunder and then the skies opened up and in seconds they found themselves drenched.

"Great, just great!" Glorfindel muttered in disgust as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and dismounted, grabbing his saddlebags. The other two were doing the same. Their horses stood looking dejected but otherwise made no move to leave their masters. "We had better move towards that stand of trees," he shouted as he pointed to some pine trees that looked as if they would afford them some shelter.

The other ellyn just nodded and with a quiet word to their horses they made their way to the trees, carefully picking their path around boulders. The mist hampered them somewhat so it took them longer than they wished to reach shelter. As they huddled under the dripping branches with their horses, Sador shouted, "I wonder what’s happening in Lórien." The other two nodded, wondering the same, hoping that their ploy had not landed any of the Reborn in too much trouble.