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Elf, Interrupted: Book Two: Glorfindel's Quest  by Fiondil

59: A Surprise Reunion

Glorfindel seemed to recover within a couple of days after Mid-summer. He was still somewhat subdued but not grieving. Those around him did not press him but by their presence let him know that he was loved and cherished and he seemed to appreciate it. By the evening of the third day he was quietly jesting with Sador and Beleg and when something Beleg said set him laughing, those who heard him rejoiced, for the laughter was joyous and unforced.

Sometime on the fourth day, a small group of people reached Tirion and made their way to the palace where they presented themselves. The guards immediately sent for the Noldóran and Prince Findaráto. When they arrived, followed by Glorfindel and Ingwion, there were glad cries of welcome for the travelers, who turned out to be Laurendil and Manwen and four other elves, who, for some reason, went cloaked and hooded in spite of the warmth of the day.

"So you came after all," Finrod exclaimed as he gave Laurendil a heartfelt embrace.

"Like I had a choice," Laurendil said with a grin. "Lord Irmo was rather... insistent that I come."

"And I insisted that I accompany my husband," Manwen said with a laugh.

Finrod gave her a welcoming hug as well, then stepped back, his expression initially puzzled, but clearing almost immediately into a wide grin. "When?" was all he asked.

Manwen smiled shyly. "Two weeks ago, just after you left Lórien," she answered and unconsciously placed a protective hand over her belly. Laurendil came and put an arm around her shoulders, looking both sheepish and pleased at the same time.

The others caught on almost immediately and began congratulating the happy couple. Then they turned their attention to the other four travelers. "Lord Irmo said these were the only ones he felt confident about letting go at this time," Laurendil said with a sly grin as he gestured to one of the cloaked elves who doffed his hood, smiling hugely. "I think some of you already know Celepharn who was once called Artelemnar Ringilion," he said, and the Noldo stepped forward to give Arafinwë a bow.

Glorfindel greeted him warmly. "I hope you didn’t get into too much trouble on my account," he said.

Celepharn shook his head and laughed. "Except for the fact that I and all the other Reborn slept for two days afterwards, Lord Irmo did not punish us, although some of the Lóriennildi were quick to give us all stern lectures. The Maiar put a stop to that, thank the Valar. I found it rather annoying being scolded by someone who was born just four hundred years ago."

"I know what you mean," Glorfindel said with a chuckle.

Finrod chuckled as well. "So who are the others and why are you all cloaked and hooded on such a warm day?"

"Ah," said Laurendil, "they wanted to surprise you."

"I hate surprises," Glorfindel muttered to no one in particular.

Finrod gave him a wry look. "I’m beginning to think the same."

"Oh, but you’ll love this surprise, aranya," Laurendil said and when he nodded the other three elves pushed back their hoods, all three of them grinning hugely.

"Mithlas!" Glorfindel cried, going to the Sinda and embracing him. Ingwion gave him his own greeting.

Mithlas laughed. "You see. Not all surprises are bad, are they?"

Glorfindel laughed and turned to Finrod, but his laughter died at the look of shock on the ellon’s face. Finrod was absolutely white, staring at the other two elves who stood there looking suddenly uncertain. Neither of them were known to Glorfindel.

"Laurendil?" Glorfindel asked but the other ellon just shook his head, not taking his eyes off of Finrod.

"Finda?" Arafinwë asked, placing a hand on the ellon’s shoulder. "What’s wrong, yonya?"

Finrod just stood there staring at the two elves, and when the others noticed tears running down his cheeks they became alarmed. Then, before anyone could react, he crumpled to the ground.

"Finrod!" Glorfindel yelled as he sought to catch him before he went all the way down. Ingwion was shouting to one of the guards to bring some water for the prince while Arafinwë just stood there, his expression unreadable, watching the entire tableau.

Meantime, Laurendil went immediately to his knees before the collapsed ellon and held Finrod’s head between his hands. "It’s all right, Findaráto," he murmured. "Deep breaths. Take your time."

By now the other two elves were beginning to panic, completely unsure of their welcome and started backing up, but Mithlas and Celepharn took them in hand and held them steady, murmuring words of encouragement. Manwen was also there, speaking softly to them. Arafinwë cast a look at the two ellyn who had apparently shocked his son by their presence. He could see that one of them was a Sinda and the other appeared to be a Noldo, though his hair was a shade of brown that was too light and Arafinwë suspected the ellon had some Sindarin blood in him as well. Both of them were now silently weeping. Mithlas, Celepharn and Manwen tried to comfort them but to no avail.

"Let’s take this inside," Arafinwë said quietly, bending down to place a hand on Finrod’s head. "Come, yonya. Let’s go somewhere more private."

Laurendil and Glorfindel helped Finrod to his feet and between them they made him walk. Arafinwë gestured for the others to follow and soon they were making their way towards the royal apartments. Along the way, Sador, Beleg and Eärnur came running, having heard of Finrod’s collapse. They started demanding answers, but a quick gesture from Arafinwë silenced them and they fell into line, bringing up the rear. Arafinwë led them, not toward his study, which would have been too small, but into the family’s sitting room where they found Eärwen, Amarië and Alassiel along with the queen’s handmaidens embroidering or playing musical instruments to entertain themselves. They all looked up in surprise at their entrance. Eärwen took one look at her son’s white face and rose in haste to go to him. Amarië and Alassiel were right there as well, looks of concern on their fair faces.

"What happened?" Eärwen asked in alarm as she took Finrod into her embrace.

Arafinwë shook his head. "That’s what I hope to learn. Please dismiss your ladies, though I think Amarië and Alassiel should stay."

Eärwen nodded and turned to the other ellith, but they were already standing and gathering their things, giving the group their curtsies before exiting. In the meantime, Arafinwë and Eärwen were leading Finrod to one of the couches, sitting on either side of him. Laurendil went to a sideboard and poured some wine into a goblet and handed it to Arafinwë.

"Try to get this down him while I look after the others," he said and his tone was that of a healer and Arafinwë simply nodded as he took the proffered goblet and began encouraging Finrod to drink.

Sador, Beleg and Eärnur made their way into the room and hovered over Finrod, while Mithlas, Celepharn and Manwen, along with the other two ellyn, stood uncertainly near the door, not sure what they should do next. Glorfindel took over and gestured for them to take seats while Laurendil went back to the sideboard and began pouring wine into more goblets. Two of them he handed to the two elves who had still not been introduced. They had stopped weeping and were more composed but their expressions were still ones of confusion and uncertainty.

"This is not your fault," Laurendil said quietly to them both. "Do not fret. All is well."

"I wish someone would explain to me what is wrong," Arafinwë demanded, though he kept his tone mild, not wanting to upset Finrod or the two elves any further, but before Laurendil could offer an answer Finrod suddenly leapt out of his seat and stumbled to his knees before the Noldorin ellon who had not yet been introduced.

"For...forgive me..." he stammered through his tears. "I never meant... I never...." and then he was weeping again, his face in his hands.

The other ellon sat there looking on, his own tears beginning to flow again and then he handed his goblet of wine to Manwen before sliding to his knees in front of Finrod and gathering him into his arms. "Ah, aranya, there is nothing to forgive," he whispered though all there heard him. "I did not think we would have succeeded anyway, but I refused to allow your cousins to turn me into an oathbreaker. I knew we were going to our deaths, though I admit I did not care for the manner in which I died." This last was said in a rather dry tone and Finrod hiccupped, trying not to laugh. The ellon continued to hold Finrod in his arms, rocking him gently. He seemed to collect himself, for he gave a deep sigh and looked up at Arafinwë and Eärwen, still sitting on the couch, their expressions ones of distress.

"Forgive me, my lord and lady," he said, giving them a bow of his head, "I fear my presence was too much for Findaráto. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Edrahil, and once I was your son’s liegeman. We both... died in Sauron’s dungeon."

"You are one of the companions who went with Finrod and Beren," Sador exclaimed, looking upon the ellon with not a little awe.

"Yes," Edrahil said simply, casting a curious eye on the younger ellon with his single warrior’s braid.

"And you, child?" Arafinwë asked, addressing the other ellon.

"Ah..." Laurendil intervened with a fond smile. "This is Eregil, who was one of my rangers when we patrolled Dorthonion before Morgoth overran it. You may recall my mentioning him. He’s the one who tricked me into peeling the onions."

"And me into peeling the carrots," Finrod said as he raised his head and gave the ellon a watery smile which Eregil returned somewhat hesitantly. Then Finrod looked up at Laurendil with a more hurt expression on his face. "You knew Edrahil had been released, and Eregil. Why wasn’t I told?"

Laurendil knelt down beside him, his own expression sympathetic. "I did not know myself at first. There are many Reborn in Lórien whom I’ve never met. We Lóriennildi are assigned certain ones and usually never see any of the others. When Lord Irmo brought these two to me I was as shocked as you were, believe me."

"So whose bright idea was it to surprise us?" Glorfindel asked, raising an imperious eyebrow in a manner that unconsciously imitated Arafinwë, much to the Noldóran’s amusement.

Laurendil gave him an innocent look. "Not me," he said virtuously and there were sniggers from the others.

"I’m afraid the fault is mine," Edrahil said, standing and giving Finrod a hand up.

Laurendil stood as well and went to sit beside Manwen. Edhrahil resumed his own seat even as Eärwen reached up and pulled Finrod back between her and Arafinwë. The others shifted their chairs a bit so they were all sitting in a circle. By now, Finrod seemed to have collected his wits and was staring at the two ellyn dry-eyed, his expression calmer.

"I don’t understand," Amarië suddenly said, giving Finrod a puzzled look. "These are friends of yours from... before?"

Finrod shook his head. "My vassals, actually," he replied, giving Edrahil and Eregil a warm smile.

"I think other introductions are in order now that the crisis seems to have passed," Arafinwë said, giving them all a wry smile, then he turned to the Reborn who had accompanied Laurendil and Manwen. "In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I am Arafinwë and this is Eärwen, we are Findaráto’s parents."

"Sometimes known as the King and Queen of the Noldor," Glorfindel added with a bland expression on his face, "but who cares?"

Both Arafinwë and Eärwen laughed while the others, except Finrod and Sador who were both sniggering, looked on with bemusement. "Who cares, indeed?" the king said. The Reborn visitors started to rise to give their obeisance, but Arafinwë waved them back to their seats. "No need to stand on ceremony. We’re all family here." Then he quickly introduced Amarië, Alassiel, and Sador. When he started to introduce Beleg, the ellon forestalled him.

"There is no need, lord," he said. "Edrahil and Eregil came to Lórien about the same time as I and we already know one another, as well as Celepharn, who was already there."

Arafinwë nodded then looked at his son, running a hand through the ellon’s hair. "Are you all right now, Finda?" he said solicitously.

Finrod nodded, giving them an abashed look. "I’m sorry. I’m afraid I was just overwhelmed...."

"No need to apologize, aranya," Edrahil said. "I never thought seeing us would distress you so."

"Now you know why I hate surprises," Glorfindel said to Finrod who nodded.

"Is that a recent thing with you or have you always been that way?" Sador suddenly asked and Glorfindel turned to him with a scowl.

"Not that it’s any business of yours, gwador," he replied, "but if you must know, I’ve not been too fond of surprises since Gondolin fell. Morgoth’s surprise attack was too much for me, I guess."

Sador looked abashed. "Sorry. I didn’t realize...."

Glorfindel shrugged. "Now you know."

"At any rate," Arafinwë interjected, "I wish to formally welcome all of you to Tirion." He gave Laurendil a considering look. "You said these ellyn were the only ones Lord Irmo felt he could safely allow to leave Lórien?"

Laurendil nodded. "Yes. Oh, well, Gwindor wanted to come, but Lord Irmo felt he needed some more time. Just before we were ready to leave he had a sudden memory of how he died." He frowned and then sighed. "He hadn’t completely recovered from it when we set out."

There were knowing nods among the other Reborn. Finrod then turned to Mithlas, his expression one of puzzlement. "Surely you would not have left your naneth and sister at this time?"

"Actually, it was Naneth who insisted I come," Mithlas replied, blushing somewhat. "Claimed I was just getting underfoot."

Finrod laughed. "Then I take it they are much improved."

"Yes," Mithlas said. "Lord Irmo thinks that they will be ready to leave Lórien in a few more weeks. He was concerned for their physical state, especially Mitheryn. She’s still much too thin and weak."

Finrod nodded. "I am glad though that they have improved enough to throw you out." The others all laughed. "Your presence on the Progress will be much appreciated."

"Speaking of which...." Laurendil said, giving Finrod a knowing look.

However, it was Arafinwë who spoke, rising from his seat, everyone else scrambling to their feet as well. "It is nearly time for the noon meal. Why don’t we have someone show you your rooms and you can freshen up. We will discuss the Progress over luncheon."

"Beleg and I can show them their rooms, Atar," Sador suggested and when Arafinwë nodded his approval the travelers gave the king and queen their obeisance and then followed Sador and Beleg out. "Laurendil and Manwen, you can have the same rooms as before," Sador said, "and I’ll put the rest of you in the same wing. You’ll be quite close to our own rooms...."

Glorfindel closed the door behind them, then turned to Arafinwë. "I’ll go alert the kitchen staff to set additional plates."

"That would be well," Arafinwë said. "Ingwion, why don’t you, Eärnur and Alassiel go with him? We will join you all shortly."

The four gave him their obeisance and departed, leaving Finrod alone with his parents and Amarië. What was said between them in the few minutes before they separated to prepare themselves for the noon meal none ever learned.





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