94: Going Separate Ways

The next morning they took their time packing up for the final leg of their journey, sitting in the largest of the pavilions, taking their ease and discussing their next move. Arafinwë assured Ingwion that he would be going to Vanyamar with him and Alassiel, once he had seen to his own kingdom. Finrod and Eärnur would be returning to Lórien, bringing Iorlas and Mithlas with them. Beleg agreed to return to Alqualondë with Olwë and Lindarion. Sador and Amarië would remain in Tirion and Gilvagor accepted Arafinwë’s invitation to reside in Tirion for a time. Haldir and Gwilwileth, who had chosen not to stay in Kortirion, accepted Pelendur’s invitation to stay with him and Lossellë.

"Your emmë will be overjoyed to have you and Gwilwileth with us," Pelendur said.

"And you?" Haldir asked.

"And me," his atar replied, leaning over to give Gwilwileth a kiss on her brow. The elleth blushed, looking both shy and happy at the same time.

And so it was settled. That left Glorfindel and when Finrod asked him where he would go, his answer surprised everyone.

"With King Olwë’s permission, I will go to Alqualondë," he said.

There was complete silence for about ten seconds and then several people started speaking all at once. Glorfindel raised a hand and silence resumed. He gave them a sardonic look. "A simple ‘have a nice trip, Glorfindel’ would have done," he said and several people looked abashed.

"But why Alqualondë?" Finrod finally asked.

"There is something I need to do," Glorfindel replied, his expression more serious. "I have questions that need answers, and I have decided that Alqualondë is the best place to start in finding them."

"Does this have anything to do with Eärendil?" Lindarion asked.

Glorfindel nodded. "Yes. You said there were those in Alqualondë who helped build Elwing’s Tower. I mean to speak with them about it."

"You are, of course, welcome to come with us, Glorfindel," Olwë said. "I will see that you are supplied with all the information you need."

"Thank you," Glorfindel said.

"But how long will you be gone?" Finrod asked, his expression one of concern.

Glorfindel shrugged. "I really don’t know."

Finrod sighed. "All those years I waited for your release from Mandos, believing that once we were together again nothing would separate us, but it seems fate is against us, for you are leaving me again."

"But not forever," Glorfindel said quietly. He tilted his head to the side, giving Finrod a considering look and then smiled. "I promise that, no matter what, I will be there for your wedding."

Finrod snorted. "That’s twelve years away. Surely you don’t expect to be gone that long."

"As to that, I cannot say," Glorfindel replied and then he switched to Sindarin. "I need to do this, gwador. I need answers."

"What about the council at the winter solstice?" Sador asked, looking almost as upset as Finrod.

Glorfindel shook his head. "You do not need me there for that."

Finrod nodded, giving him a small smile. "I will hold you to your promise that you will be there for the wedding."

"And perhaps I will bring guests," Glorfindel said with a sly smile.

"If they are the guests I think you mean," Finrod replied, "they will be most welcome."

"Then it is settled," Arafinwë said, giving Glorfindel a fond smile. "I will miss you, hinya, but I know you need to do this. When you have found your answers, return to us, for you are part of the family and we would fain have you close."

"I will, I promise," Glorfindel replied.

"Well, I suppose we had best be on our way," Olwë said, rising from his chair. "I want to be in Alqualondë before the tide turns."

"And I wish to be in Tirion sooner rather than later myself," Arafinwë said, rising as well.

Thus, in a short time, the two parties made their farewells. Glorfindel followed Olwë and Lindarion onto one of the swan ships with Beleg beside him. Arafinwë and those heading for Tirion stood on the quay and watched as the ships sailed off, waving farewell. Only when the ships rounded a spur of land and were out of sight did they mount their horses and begin the journey up the Calacirya towards Tirion. Finrod was the last to leave the quay.

****

Glorfindel stood at the rail and waved at those on shore until they were out of sight and then he remained still, not willing to move. Beleg stood beside him on his right with Lindarion on his left. Lindarion gave the ellon a sympathetic smile.

"You’ll see them again, perhaps sooner than you think," he said, placing a comforting hand on the ellon’s shoulder.

"I know," Glorfindel replied, still staring at the wake of their ship.

"So, what did young Sador tell you?" the older ellon asked, hoping to distract the golden-haired ellon.

Glorfindel gave him a startled look and Lindarion smiled. "I saw you dragging him away at one point during our voyage and figured you would be asking him questions about Eärendil and Elwing."

Glorfindel nodded. "I wanted to hear what he had to say about them," he replied, turning to lean against the rail and the other two ellyn followed suit.

"What did he say?" Beleg asked, curious.

"He didn’t really have much to say," Glorfindel answered. "He was rather young at the time when the refugees fled Doriath, later to be joined by those of Gondolin. He remembers Tuor and Idril better."

"Oh?" Lindarion said, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, they became the leaders of the refugees. Elwing was still a child and apparently, once Tuor and Idril arrived, Celeborn and Galadriel removed to Balar where Círdan was living."

Beleg nodded, but Lindarion wrinkled his nose. "Sorry, but who are these people of whom you speak?"

Glorfindel gave him a wry smile. "Your education is woefully lacking," he retorted and Lindarion merely snorted in good humor. "But to answer your question," Glorfindel continued, "Celeborn is your first cousin by your Uncle Elmo and Galadriel, otherwise known as Artanis...." he gave the ellon a significant look.

"Ah...." was Lindarion’s reply. "I see."

Glorfindel nodded. "At any rate, Sador mostly remembers Tuor and Idril, though they did not remain there for very long and Eärendil, once he reached a man’s estate, was rarely there, always sailing. What Sador remembers most is taking his little sister down to the beach to play in the surf with the other elflings and Elwing would bring her two children down to join them." He paused for a moment in reflection. "I am glad that Tuor and Idril survived Gondolin though it grieves me that none know their fates."

"We, of course, know nothing of them," Lindarion said. "I recall when Eärendil came to us to find Elwing that they discussed it between themselves. I gathered that Eärendil had hoped to find them here and was sorely disappointed when he did not."

"And the Valar, I assume, were ever their helpful selves and refused to say either way," Glorfindel said sardonically.

Lindarion gave him a startled look. "You sound almost bitter," he said accusingly.

Glorfindel shrugged, his expression darkening somewhat. "The Valar and I have a... history." Seeing Lindarion’s troubled mien, he gave him a brief smile. "Do not concern yourself, my friend. It is of no real importance." Then he turned to Beleg who had remained silent all this time. "So, Beleg, what mischief is there to be had in Alqualondë?"

Beleg raised an eyebrow, giving him a supercilious look. "Mischief? I know not of what you speak, my lord."

Lindarion rolled his eyes and muttered something about elflings and mayhem. Beleg scowled and Glorfindel smirked.

****

The journey up the Calacirya was a silent one for the most part. Many in the party were mulling over the events of the last two weeks, especially what happened in Avallónë and Kortirion. Finrod, riding beside his atar kept looking back the way they had come. Arafinwë gave him a sympathetic smile.

"It’s not as if you haven’t been separated before, yonya," he pointed out.

Finrod nodded. "I know, but for some reason this feels different."

"He’s growing up," Arafinwë said. "He’s no longer acting like a younger brother to you, is he?"

Finrod gave his atar a startled look. "Do you think that’s what it is?" He shook his head. "I have ever thought of Glorfindel as my otorno, as my... sword-brother, as the Atani would put it."

"Yet, you cannot deny that at times you have treated him much as you treated your own brothers when they were younger," Arafinwë insisted. "I am not saying this disparagingly, yonya. Glorfindel, I deem, needed an older brother for a time, but that time has passed and he is finally becoming, as you say, your otorno in truth. He’s no longer your playmate from Mandos, and I think that disturbs you somewhat." He gave Finrod a shrewd look and the ellon grimaced, looking abashed.

"I suppose," he averred with a sigh. "All those years I yearned for him to be with me. I missed him and I wanted him to share in my adventures. Then he is finally released and I realized that somewhere along the way, I grew up, but Glorfindel was still acting as an elfling half the time."

"More than half, I’d say," Arafinwë said with a wry smile.

Finrod chuckled. "At any rate, I found myself being the older brother and I guess I just got used to the role."

"And now, Glorfindel is no longer quite as young as he used to be," Arafinwë said with a nod, "though he still has a long way to go before he reaches full maturity."

"I think his time with the Maiar has shortened that time somewhat," Finrod suggested.

"No doubt," his atar averred. "I was pleasantly surprised at how he conducted himself throughout the Progress and I noticed that both Sador and Beleg seemed to follow his lead, which made things easier for us all, I think."

Finrod nodded. "I noticed that as well." He paused for a moment or two before continuing. "I hope he doesn’t get into too much trouble, though. I really don’t like the idea of him wandering around unattended. There’s no telling what mischief he will land himself in and I’m not there to help him get out of it."

Arafinwë chuckled. "We’ll just have to trust that he won’t get into too much trouble, then," he said. "I’m sure the Valar will keep an eye on our Balrog-slayer. They seem to have a particular fondness for him."

Finrod’s only reply was a sigh.

****

"So, he’s finally on his way," Manwë said to the other Valar once Manveru finished his report and was dismissed. They were gathered together in Ilmarin.

"It will be interesting to see what transpires," Námo replied. "I know Glorfindel has been feeling frustrated at not being able to see Eärendil’s Star."

"Yes," Manwë said musingly. "That troubles me somewhat. He should be able to see it now that the barriers have been removed. I do not understand why he cannot."

"It is indeed troubling," Irmo interjected. "Oft times his dreams appear troubled and they always center around Eärendil."

"Oh?" Námo gave his younger brother in the Thought of Atar a startled look. "And when were you going to tell me?"

Irmo gave him a snort. "Dreams are not your concern, brother, and these dreams are not all that unusual as dreams go."

"Of what do they consist?" Manwë asked.

Irmo shrugged. "Mostly they involve him looking for Eärendil and not finding him. As I said, troubling and frustrating, but not all that interesting."

"It depends on how you define ‘interesting’," Vairë said with a slight smile. "It seems Glorfindel has decided to take these dreams with some literalness and means to seek out Eärendil in truth."

Námo nodded in agreement. "Most likely these dreams are what is spurring him on. The question remains, do we allow him to find Eärendil at this time?"

"I see no reason why he should not," Manwë said with a slight shrug. "He is looking for answers. He will not find them with Eärendil, or at least not all of them. Yet, perhaps, in finding some of the answers to his questions, he will become more content. He is not ready for what we would ask of him. He still has some growing up to do and he needs more training."

"Will you have the Maiar watch over him and make sure he stays out of trouble?" Varda asked. There were chuckles all around.

Manwë shook his head, a slight smile on his face. "I have something else in mind for our Balrog-slayer." But what that was, he refused to say just then and the others had to be content.

"Well, putting Glorfindel aside for the moment," Aulë then said, "what are your thoughts about this Progress? Do you deem it a failure in its objectives?"

"It is too early to tell," Manwë replied. "Certainly Olwë and Arafinwë walking out on the people of Kortirion as they did was an unexpected move."

"The Children are unpredictable at the best of times," Námo averred with a nod. "It will be interesting to see what develops, but I believe the council they had hoped to host will be held as planned."

There was agreement all around. "Where do you think they will hold it, though?" Nienna asked. "It is unlikely they will hold it on Tol Eressëa."

"That leaves Aman," Vána said, "but I think Tirion and Alqualondë will be deemed unacceptable to the Tol Eressëans because of Arafinwë and Olwë having already been to the island."

"True," Manwë said, "which means that Vanyamar would be the logical site for such a council."

"Well, not the only site," Námo said with an amused smile. The others looked at him with various degrees of bemusement.

"And where else would they hold such a council?" Aulë demanded.

For an answer Námo gave them an arch look as if to say that he could not believe they were that dim. Varda caught on first.

"No, absolutely not," she said vehemently. "The last thing I need is a bunch of Children running around Ilmarin...."

"Or Valmar," Námo interjected, giving them an innocent look.

"Or anywhere where we reside," Varda retorted. "Absolutely out of the question."

There was an uneasy silence for a moment or two before Manwë spoke. "We will wait to see what they decide among themselves," he said equably, giving Varda an understanding smile. "It is still unclear if they will even hold this council now."

"They’re still not holding their precious council here," Varda muttered darkly, "whatever they decide."

Manwë leaned over and gave her a loving kiss and a hug while everyone else looked on with indulgent smiles.

"And what of Angobel?" Yavanna asked. "What are we to do for those poor benighted Children?"

"We have done what we could," Manwë answered. "Inspiring Ancalimon to kidnap Laurendil and the others is all we could do in that regard. The rest is up to the Children themselves. Arafinwë and Olwë are aware of their existence and soon Ingwë will be as well."

"It was something of a gamble asking Olórin to walk among them unseen and inspire them towards mayhem," Námo said with a faint smile. "He has ever been one to foster fair visions, wisdom and hope."

Manwë nodded. "I know, and I plan to reward him for his efforts. Yet, he accepted the assignment willingly, so I do not fear that he will suffer for it unduly."

"And it was for a good cause," Varda added. "The kings of Aman are about three hundred years late in finally addressing the problems on Tol Eressëa. Ancalimon and his people have suffered long enough."

"I still think we should have addressed the situation earlier ourselves," Ulmo put in, frowning slightly. "Why we needed to wait until Findaráto and Glorfindel were reunited is beyond me."

"They are the catalyst," Námo answered. "Together they will bring about changes in Aman and beyond, changes long overdue. I do not think our plans would have worked quite as well without them."

"Perhaps," Ulmo averred, stroking his sea-green beard and nodding. "At any rate, I think it behooves us to take a more active role in this where Angobel is concerned. The Children need to see that we Valar accept these people and welcome them."

"What are you suggesting?" Oromë asked, giving the Lord of Waters a curious look.

Ulmo gave them a mischievous smile. "I was thinking of sending them an invitation to visit us at the winter solstice."

"The entire village?" Varda asked with a raised eyebrow.

Ulmo shrugged. "It’s just a thought. Make the invitation very public."

"The idea has merits," Námo said. "Perhaps we should invite them whether a council is held or not."

"It is something to think about, surely," Manwë replied, casting a fond look at Varda who sat there glowering, muttering about the Children tracking mud all over Ilmarin and generally making a mess.

"I’m sure it won’t be as bad as that, sister," Vairë said with a faint smile.

Varda continued to glower, not convinced. Manwë steered the conversation to other, safer topics of interest to the Valar and the rest of their council was spent discussing the erratic orbits of some of the asteroids and the need to change them to prevent the possibility of future collisions with the planet.